See post #17. As accepted by Congress, the President, and the Supreme Court, West Virginia received authorization for its formation from the legitimate government of Virginia, headed by Governor Francis H. Pierpont, who remained as Governor of Virginia until 1868.
A witting historical lie of the first rank. The governor of Virginia was John Letcher, and his government sat at Richmond undisturbed by the cabal put together by Cornershooter Abe throughout 1861-3, the period during which Lincoln used the military occupation of western Virginia to create a "state" ex nihilo.
Lincoln used the Constitution to shine his shoes.