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 without having
declared their intention to retain the character of Mexicans shall be
considered to have elected to become citizens of the United States.

In the said territories property of every kind now belonging to
Mexicans not established there shall be inviolably respected. The
present owners, the heirs of these, and all Mexicans who may hereafter
acquire said property by contract shall enjoy with respect to it
guaranties equally ample as if the same belonged to citizens of the
United States.


The ninth article of the treaty is in these words:

The Mexicans who, in the territories aforesaid, shall not preserve the