Texas seceded. She was conquered by military force and readmitted to the union. Try reading Justice Chase's words a little slower:
If, therefore, it is true that the State of Texas was not at the time of filing this bill [-----> when was this <-----], or is not now, one of the United States [-----> when was this <-----], we have no jurisdiction of this suit, and it is our duty to dismiss it.For the first, Texas filed in Supreme Court 15 Feb 1867. For the second, the case was argued 5, 8-9 Feb 1869, the opinion issued 12 Apr 1869.
And Texas was conquered when?
“And Texas was conquered when”? You’re right!
Texas was not “conquered”. Every one else had surrendered so Texas was left alone. In fact, the last battle of the war was at Palmitos Ranch where a column of Yankees out of Brownsville marched north along the Rio Grande. They were met by a force of Texas Rangers under the Command of Col. RIP (Rest in Peace) Ford. Ford and his Rangers tore them a new one and sent them scurrying back to Brownsville.
General Magruder, Commander of the Trans-Mississippi decided his position was untenable and surrendered his forces to the Union Army.
The Union troops landed on Galveston 6-19-1865 where their Commanding General issued a proclamation declaring Emancipation for the Slaves in Texas. (That is how “Juneteenth” came about).
I did read it, did you? Or were there too many big words in this part?
"Considered therefore as transactions under the Constitution, the ordinance of secession, adopted by the convention and ratified by a majority of the citizens of Texas, and all the acts of her legislature intended to give effect to that ordinance, were absolutely null. They were utterly without operation in law. The obligations of the State, as a member of the Union, and of every citizen of the State, as a citizen of the United States, remained perfect and unimpaired. It certainly follows that the State did not cease to be a State, nor her citizens to be citizens of the Union."