In point of fact, his intention to become a citizen dated from the summer of 1783.
To take from the case the air of party proscription, which it was beginning to assume, the Senate discharged its special committee, and raised a general committee on elections to consider this and other cases.

On February 10, 1794, the report of this committee was submitted, and a day was set for a hearing by the Senate, with open doors.

On that day Mr.Gallatin exhibited a written statement of facts, agreed to between himself and the petitioners, and the case was left to the Senate on its merits.

On the 28th a test vote was taken upon a motion to the effect that "Albert Gallatin, returned to this House as a member for the State of Pennsylvania, is duly qualified for and elected to a seat in the Senate of the United States," and it was decided in the negative--yeas, 12; nays, 14.[2] Motion being made that the election of Albert Gallatin 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,--it was further moved to divide the question at the word "void;" and the question being then taken on the first paragraph, it passed in the affirmative--yeas, 14; nays, 12.

The yeas and nays were required, and the Senate divided as before.