Yes, sort of. After the end of the war, it was ruled unconstitutional (by SCOTUS), but only applied to 1869 onward. (perhaps meaning it was legal in 1861). The

Yes, sort of. After the end of the war, it was ruled unconstitutional (by SCOTUS), but only applied to 1869 onward. (perhaps meaning it was legal in 1861). The actual ruling is still being debated. https://history.stackexchange.com/questions/2056/was-the-secession-of-the-confederate-states-illegal https://history.stackexchange.com/questions/2056/was-the-sec...