[El Gato]

Of course whole reason Congress was given power to regulate, that is to make regular, (ie. properly functioning) Interstate Commerce was to prevent the States from restricting it, as they had under the Articles of Confederation. It was not to give Congress the power to restrict it, but rather to encourage it, and to prevent states from restricting foreign commerce through restrictions, duties and so forth on foreign commerce passing through their territory. See Federalist no 42 Written by Madison.

[robertpaulsen]

"It was not to give Congress the power to restrict it"

So the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations did not give the federal government the power to restrict it? The power to regulate commerce with the Indian tribes did not give the federal government the power to restrict it?

Madison was Secretary of State when President Jefferson did both and he didn't say squat.

"The power to regulate commerce among the several states is granted to congress in terms as absolute as is the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations."
-- Brown v. Houston, 114 U.S. 622 (1885)