in the military possession of the United States at the 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: