IF the 14th Amendment is Declaratory THEN Ark is a natural born citizen .
You can’t get around it.
The lower court was affirmed WITHOUT EXCEPTION. The lower court indicated it might embrace Vattel but couldn’t and left it open to SCOTUS - WHO REJECTED IT.
Clearly, Justice Fuller understood what the majority opinion meant as it pertains to running for the President even if someone posting on the internet such as yourself doesn’t get it.
If the court had wanted to declare Ark a natural born citizen it would have.
It didn't!
Your speculative "IF/THEN" doesn't come into play because the decision is right there in black and white.
Sorry about that.