If tile Constitution had meant (as was contended) to have settled the qualifications of Memhers. its words would have naturally ran thus : " Every person who has attained the age of 25 years. an(d bcen seven years a citizen of the United States. and who shall. when elected. be an inhabitant of the State from which lie shall be chosen. shall be eligible to a seat in the touse of Representatives." But. so far from fixing the qualifications of Members of that House. the Constitution merely enulerates a few disqualifications within whichi the States were left to act. It said to the States: " You have been in the habit of electing young men barely of age. You shall send us none but such as are five and twenty. Some of you have elected persons just naturalized. You shall not elect any to this House who have not been seven years citizens of the United States. Sometimes merely sojourners and transient persons have been clothed with legislative authority.
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naturalized