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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.
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.
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.
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 ...
The clause protects the fundamental rights of individual citizens and restrains state efforts to discriminate against out-of-state citizens. It also provides the basis of the union and the right to interstate travel, according to the Supreme Court interpretations.
By this rule, the “free inhabitants” of each state would not be foreigners vis-à-vis the others, but instead “entitled to all privileges and immunities of free citizens in the several States.”
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 ...
