date of the
treaty of peace.

By that treaty the title by conquest was confirmed and these
territories, provinces, or departments separated from Mexico forever,
and by the same treaty certain important rights and securities were
solemnly guaranteed to the inhabitants residing therein.

By the fifth article of the treaty it is declared that--

The boundary line between the two Republics shall commence in the Gulf
of Mexico 3 leagues from land, opposite the mouth of the Rio Grande,
otherwise called Rio Bravo del Norte, or opposite the mouth of its
deepest branch if it should have more than one branch emptying
directly into the sea; from thence up the middle of that river,
following the deepest channel where it has more than one, to the point
where it strikes the southern boundary of New Mexico; thence
westwardly, along the whole southern boundary of New Mexico (which
runs north of the town called Paso) to its western termination; thence
northward along the western line of New Mexico until it intersects the
first branch of the river Gila (or, if it should not intersect any
branch of that river, then to the point on the said line nearest to
such branch, and thence in a direct line to the same); thence down the
middle of the said branch and of the said river until it empties into
the Rio Colorado; thence across the Rio Colorado, following the
division line between Upper and Lower California, to the Pacific
Ocean.

The eighth article of the treaty is in the following terms:

Mexicans now established in territories previously belonging to
Mexico, and which remain for the future within the limits of the
United States as defined by the present treaty, shall be free to
continue where they now reside or to remove at any time to the Mexican
Republic, retaining the property which they possess in the said
territories, or disposing thereof and removing the proceeds wherever
they please without their being subjected on this account to any
contribution, tax, or charge whatever.

Those who shall prefer to remain in the said territories may either
retain the title, and rights of Mexican citizens or acquire those of
citizens of the United States; but they shall be under the obligation
to make their election within one year from the date of the exchange
of ratifications of this treaty; and those who shall remain in the
said territories after the expiration of that year w