Page "John J. Crittenden" Paragraph 35

In 1845, the Senate took up the question of ending the joint occupancy of the Oregon Territory with Great Britain.

Lewis Cass, a senator from Michigan, supported an immediate termination of the joint occupation agreement and maintained that a war with the British over the matter was inevitable.

Crittenden disagreed, and insisted that Britain be given two years notice before the joint occupation of the territory was ended in order to allow time for a diplomatic resolution.

Ultimately, Crittenden's position prevailed, and a compromise with Britain was effected, setting the dividing line between the two nations ' claims at the 49th parallel north.