States surrendered April 9, 1865 (Lee surrenders to Grant) "Order" is restored in the Southern States via the Reconstruction Laws. 3 . Jurisprudence Language By the Winners A very strong clue previewing the rulings of the Supreme Court of the United States on the issue of the illegality of the secession of the Southern States can be found in the preparatory language of the Court leading up to its decision in the seminal case of Texas v. White, 74 U.S. 700 (1869). The following is a selection of the Court's classification of the Confederate States' attempted secession. Texas v. White , 74 U.S. 700 (1869) "...At the time of that outbreak, Texas was confessedly one of the United States of America, having a State constitution in accordance with that of the United States, and represented by senators and representatives in the Congress at Washington.  In January, 1861, a call for a convention of the people of the State was issued, signed by sixty-one individuals. The call was without authority and revolutionary ..." "...Thus was established the rebel government of Texas." " ... War having become necessary to complete the purposed destruction by the South of the Federal government, Texas joined the other Southern States, and made war upon the United States, whose authority was now recognized in no manner within her borders. Significant Case Holdings in Date Order The Amy Warwick , 67 U.S. 635 (1863) Context This case involved vessels (and their cargoes) which were seized during the Civil