Shields was elected by the Legislature of the State of Illinois. as will be recalled. for the term of 6 years. beginning March 3. 1849. On March 6 the oath of office was administered to him and his credentials were referred to a special committee of the Senate. It appeared from the committees report that General Shields was naturalized on the 21st day of October 1840. and therefore the full term of citizenship required by the Constitution he lacked by about 7 months. The committee of the Senate presented a resolution. as follows: That the election of James Shields to be a Senator of the United States was void. he not having been a citizen of the United States for the term of years required as a qualification to be a Senator of the United States. The action finally taken by the Senatetaken upon the motion of John C.
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naturalized