Interesting you mention West Virginia. Lincoln created the state in contravention of Article 4, Section 3 of the Constitution which required the approval of the State of Virginia: New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union; but no new States shall be formed or erected within the Jurisdiction of any other State; nor any State be formed by the Junction of two or more States, or parts of States, without the Consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned as well as of the Congress. I guess the judge who interviewed Lincoln for his joining the Illinois bar didn't bring this up either. To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html