[FtrPilot]

The clause states that the United States Congress shall have power "[to regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes."

There is no verbiage WRT "removing hindrances to interstate commerce".

[Jim W N]

The Constitution, as any law, should be interpreted and applied as written and originally understood and intended.

If the wording is clear then you go with it. There’s no genuine issue that the meaning of Art. I, Sec. 8 Cl. 3, is about interstate commerce - or business or commerce between the states. So that leaves out business within states, only that between the states. One must ask, why regulation between the states?

If the wording is or can be seen as ambiguous, as with any law, then to obtain the proper meaning and intent you research what the framers and ratifiers meant and intended.

A good starting point in interpreting and applying the Constitution is the Declaration of Independence which has persuasive authority and frames the Constitution. The D of I shows a general intent of the Framers and Founders of our country for freedom and independence from government coercion and thus to create an effective but very limited government. They saw government as necessary to protect the States from outside invasion, but evil if unlimited and unrestrained - the reason for the American Revolution.

From there, the “Federalist Papers”, written at the time of the creation and ratification of the Constitution to explain the intent of contents of the Constitution is a good source. Regarding interstate commerce, the Federalist Papers speak in favor of “unrestrained intercourse between the States themselves” and “free circulation” of goods. So, yes, the purpose and intent of the Commerce Clause was to allow unhindered commerce between the states. There is no evidence of an intent to give the feds unlimited power over all interstate communications, transportations, and commerce.

When looking at a clause that could be seen as ambiguous, always use the original understanding and intent of LIMITED government to see what was meant. If you are a Patriot and lover of America and freedom, you won’t have a problem with that. Otherwise, you are showing support for the current 80%+ unconstitutional portion of our mostly outlaw government.