The case is Texas v. White (1869) which ruled that Texas had never left the
Union, that the act of a rebellious governing group to seceed
unconstitutional, and that the states were essentially indestructible.

Harold S. Forsythe
----- Original Message -----
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Sent: Saturday, December 10, 2005 12:16 PM
Subject: Re: 12091544Z05 The Constitutions - Or Otherwise


>I Believe the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1867 that the Southern
> Secession was illegal. This was in a Texan debt case.
>
> I understand that a ruling by the high court of the U.S. that the side
> that lost the war was wrong, doesn't exactly answer the question for all
> concerned. However, the U.S. S.C. did eventually decide the question.
>
> Virginia militia attacked U.S. facilities in Harper's Ferry, and Gosport
> prior to U.S,  action against the Virginia Government. I believe these
> were even done before Virginia Succession was finalized with its
> referendum of the people on the subject. It may even have been ordered
> prior the the convention's vote to secede.  Interestingly, not by the
> then governor, although he did later ratify the act.
>
> Furthermore, Virginia decided to secede, after previously deciding not
> to, only after Fort Sumpter and Lincoln's calling for troops from the
> states. I think joining forces with a league at war with the United
> States can be considered an act of war.
>
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