The Cabinet met on December 26 to discuss the new state of West Virginia.
Residents of the western part of Virginia had opposed secession. They formed what was known as the Restored Government of Virginia. They had petitioned to the federal government to form their own new Union state of West Virginia.
The Senate had approved the bill for statehood on July 14 which included the Willey Amendment. The amendment called for children of slave born after July 4, 1863 would be free; at that slaves under the age of ten would be free at age 25; and that no slave could be allowed to come into the state to live there.
The House of Representatives approved a similar bill on December 10, approving the formation of the Union states without abolishing slavery.
It was up to President Lincoln to decide whether to sign the legislation.
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