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The Privileges and Immunities Clause (U.S. Constitution, Article IV, Section 2, Clause 1, also known as the Comity Clause) prevents a state from treating citizens of other states in a discriminatory manner. Additionally, a right of interstate travel is associated with the clause.
No, "free inhabitant" isn't really a thing. And the reference in the Articles of Confederation doesn't mean what people think it actually means. Under the AoC, what it actually means is that any free citizen can move between other states and must be treated equally by the other states.
A "Free Inhabitant" is one who has some legal theory that the government can't tell them what to do. Sure, there are some limitations on government. (aka The Constitution.) But, it has been interpreted over time by the courts and most theories of such people have been limited by court decisions.
So, what is an article 4 free inhabitant? It’s a reference to the articles of confederation, which is an agreement between the states that predates the constitution.
It's more like they get stopped for breaking a legitimate law and are legally asked to identify themselves (and in cases of moving violations, provide license, proof of insurance, etc). But they believe that, because the Articles of Confederation say that they don't have to, they don't have to.
This clause protects the fundamental rights of individual citizens and restrains state efforts to discriminate against out-of-state citizens. Because of its ambiguity, much debate surrounds the specific rights the Privileges and Immunities Clause protects.
The better to secure and perpetuate mutual friendship and intercourse among the people of the different states in this union, the free inhabitants of each of these states, paupers, vagabonds and fugitives from justice excepted, shall be entitled to all privileges and immunities of free citizens in the several states; and the people of each ...
