The treaty was the only instance in the nineteenth-century where the United States committed to defend the sovereignty of a Latin American state at the request of that state. President Polk was surprised by Bidlack's actions and initially opposed the treaty because of the commitment to defend New Granada. He later threw his support behind the measure which received final ratification by Congress on 10 June 1848. Eventually, the pact helped pave the way for the construction of the Panama Canal.Findling 1980
