24 Comments

I knew of the reason for W. VA. to be separated from VA., but had never heard the wranglings that went on to make it happen. I would surmise that VA. was none to happy to lose that portion of their land mass! Thanks, Tara, for the lesson.

Expand full comment

Everything Lincoln did to serve his purposes was questionable, and a lot of it was unconstitutional (like this!).

Expand full comment

Since Virginia had succeeded from the union they were technically no longer a part of the United States so their agreement should not have been necessary.

Expand full comment

Thank you, Tara.

Expand full comment

As others have stated, Lincoln's legacy is peppered with actions that if not outright outside the limitations of the Constitution, were certainly questionable. The same is true of a significant number of other presidential actions including: the Lewis and Clark Expedition (a funding issue), the Louisiana Purchase, almost all of FDR's New Deal, and most of the wars we have entered into.

Over time the logic for justifying extra-Constitutional executive actions has become more and more twisted, every president expands the reach of executive orders , and hyper-partisan politics in Congress results in the legislature doing nothing while it's Constitutional powers are usurped by the executive and judicial branches.

Our founders warned us about these dangers (in a general way), yet a dumbed-down and distracted citizenry sits back while our unique and brilliant form of government is ground into dust.

Expand full comment

🇺🇲Another important part of my country's history I first learned of today.

Thanks Tara. 🇺🇸

Expand full comment

A good history lesson on West Virginia becoming a state. It’s interesting to know how and why it was determined and who was involved. Seems there’s a state or two that would like to split today. I think Oregon is one. California has talked for years about splitting. Nothing has come if it.

Expand full comment

This is a very informative article, Tara! Thank you for sharing historical event details I was unaware about!

Expand full comment

Don't know what to make Of Lincoln's Statement ?

Expand full comment

Virginia (born there) left the USA, so were they entitled to be a decision maker. Question I am not qualified to answer. West Virginia departed the former Virginia over secession so they could have been a territory. Again, not qualified to answer. I am glad it worked out in the end.

Expand full comment

In the midst of our Civil War West West Virginia decides to secede from Weat Virginia and become a State of the United States of America!

It wasn’t easy but they got it done with the help of Abraham Lincoln and others!

Thank you, Tara, for this history lesson!

Expand full comment

Thank you Tara 😉 It seems to me West Virginians were Forward thinking and Virginia Commons not so much 🤔

Expand full comment

Was never taught this background on WV. All I "knew" was Federals wanted WV as a state and Virginia was in no position to stop it. Tara, I appreciate your posting. As always, you do good work!

Expand full comment

👍👍👍

Expand full comment

👍👍👍

Expand full comment

Thank you Tara. Admitting West Virginia into the United States required some hocus pocus and other constructs to find a way that our Constitution would allow it to happen.

President Lincoln had to take the choice that a contortion of our Constitution was more acceptable than having a whole state in opposition to the United States.

But, as others have said, at least Lincoln was concerned about the Constitution being followed, as opposed to many acts of today, where the Constitution is easy to ignore.

As of this date, thank God that at least, the United States Supreme Court is a stumbling block to outright legislative and executive fiat. Only a matter of a couple of votes, I'm afraid.

Expand full comment