The Constitution is explicit in requiring that no person shall be a Senator unless he has been 9 years a citizen of the United States. If. then. he Is not a Senator now there is a vacancy. for Illinois would have but one vote here. and that vacancy must be filled according to law. That he is not a Senator is clear. because he cannot perform one duty belonging to the senatorial office unless he has been naturalized 9 years previous to the commencement of his senatorial term. Thinking thus. I deem it due to the State of Illinois that the question should be now settled. unless General Shields shall allege that he has evidence which will in all probability be satisfactory to the Senate that the term of 9 years had expired before the 4th of March.
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naturalized