University of Virginia Library

1417. COMMERCE, Power of Congress over.—

The power given to Congress by the
Constitution does not extend to the internal
regulation of the commerce of a State (that
is to say of the commerce between citizen and
citizen), which remains exclusively with its
own Legislature; but to its external commerce
only, that is to say, its commerce with
another State, or with foreign nations, or with
the Indian tribes.—
National Bank Opinion. Washington ed. vii, 557. Ford ed., v, 286.
(1791)