Thus the fourteenth amendment is held to be merely declaratory except that it brings all persons. Irrespective of color. within the scope of the alleged rule. and puts that rule beyond the control of the legislative power. " If the conclusion of the majority opinion is correct. then the children of citizens of the United States. Who have been born abroad since July 28. 1868. when the amendment was declared ratified. were. and are. aliens. unless they have. or shall on attaining majority become citizens by naturalization in the United Stat6s. and no statutory provision to the contrary is of any force or effect. And children who are aliens by descent. but born on our soil. are exempted from the exercise of the power to exclude or to expel aliens. or any class of aliens. so often maintained by this court. an exemption apparently disregarded by the acts in respect of the exclusion of persons of Chinese descent. The soundness of the dissenting opinIon is repeatedly shown.
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naturalization