Remarks of P. Emory Aldrich on the Ordinance of 1787.

The article presents supplemental commentary on the article "The Legislative History of the Ordinance of 1787," by John M. Merriam, included in the issue. The author provides discussion highlighting the lack of legal authority of the U.S. Congress of the Confederation to pass the Northwest Ordinance under the rules of the Articles of Confederation. Further comments are included asserting that such a lack of authority directly influenced the contemporary reframing of the U.S. Constitution, which then provided such authority to the Congress.