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“National defense and, frequently, interventionism are legitimate constitutional functions of the central government.”

The founders disagree. From the founding of the nation, we had the Barbary Pirates war, short and sharp, and in response to an external attack on shipping.
About 50 years later, we had the Mexican War in response to Mexican aggressive moves.
50 years later we had the Spanish American war. After all was said and done, the problem was Spain moving in violation of the well known Monroe doctrine.

So every 50 years,, we had a short and sharp foreign adventure. That is not what we have today.

"About 50 years later, we had the Mexican War in response to Mexican aggressive moves."

Actually, if you read the history of it, the Mexican American war was about "American Manifest Destiny" or what we might call today American Imperialism. Polk wanted the United States to go all the way to the coast. We went to war over the Republic of Texas applying to the United States for statehood and because Mexico would not sell us California. How is that agressive Mexican moves?

"50 years later we had the Spanish American war. After all was said and done, the problem was Spain moving in violation of the well known Monroe doctrine."

Spain had owned Cuba since 1492, the war had nothing to do with the Monroe Doctrine as Spain had already been there for a long time. If it was about the Monroe Doctrine, what was Commodore Dewey doing steaming into Manilla Bay uttering the famous line, "you may fire when ready Mr. Gridley"? If it was about the Monroe doctrine, why did we annex the Phillipines, Guam and Wake Island? The Spainish American war was mainly about Spains inherrent problem of settling the Cuban rebellion and the atrocities that were happening. That was one of the main reasons why the U.S.S. Maine sailed into Havana harbor and well, we know the rest of the story.

We also had the War of 1812 and we invaded Canada briefly and there were those including Lincoln and Henry David Thoreau (Civil Disobedience) who would disagree with your characterization of the Mexican War. I am a bit surprised at your post since I usually think I agree with you but not here.