Up to the very last moment of the life of the Confederacy, the London
“Punch” had its fling at the United States. In a cartoon, printed
February 18th, 1865, labeled “The Threatening Notice,” “Punch” intimates
that Uncle Sam is in somewhat of a hurry to serve notice on John Bull
regarding the contentions in connection with the northern border of the
United States.
Lincoln, however, as attorney for his revered Uncle, advises caution.
Accordingly, he tells his Uncle, according to the text under the picture:
ATTORNEY LINCOLN: “Now, Uncle Sam, you’re in a darned hurry to serve
this here notice on John Bull. Now, it’s my duty, as your attorney, to
tell you that you may drive him to go over to that cuss, Davis.” (Uncle
Sam considers.) In this instance, President Lincoln is given credit for
judgment and common sense, his advice to his Uncle Sam to be prudent
being sound. There was trouble all along the Canadian border during the
War, while Canada was the refuge of Northern conspirators and Southern
spies, who, at times, crossed the line and inflicted great damage
upon the States bordering on it. The plot to seize the great lake
cities--Chicago, Milwaukee, Detroit, Cleveland, Buffalo and others--was
figured out in Canada by the Southerners and Northern allies. President
Lincoln, in his message to Congress in December, 1864, said the United
States had given notice to England that, at the end of six months, this
country would, if necessary, increase its naval armament upon the lakes.
What Great Britain feared was the abrogation by the United States of all
treaties regarding Canada. By previous stipulation, the United States
and England were each to have but one war vessel on the Great Lakes.