The aggregate number is nearly fourteen thousand, and the list includes prominent men of all classes in the South, who, recognizing the fact that the Rebellion had failed, turned, as the only alternative, to the Government which had conquered and was now ready to extend a magnanimous forgiveness.

Many of those sought to place themselves in harmony with the restored Union, and looked forward hopefully to the events of the future.

Many others, as it must be regretfully but truthfully recorded, appeared to have no proper appreciation of the leniency extended to them.

They accepted every favor with an ill grace, and showed rancorous hatred to the National Government even when they knew it only as a benefactor.
Having by the proclamation extended amnesty on the simple condition of an oath of loyalty to the Union and the Constitution, and obedience to the Decree of Emancipation, the President had established a definite and easily ascertainable constituency of white men in the South to whom the work of reconstructing civil government in the several States might be intrusted.

A circular from Mr.Seward accompanied the proclamation, directing that the oath might "be taken and subscribed before any commissioned officer, civil, military, or naval, in the service of the United States, or before any civil or military officer of a loyal State or Territory, who, by the laws thereof, may be qualified to administer oaths." Every one who took the oath was entitled to a certified copy of it, as the proof of his restoration to all civil rights, and a duplicate, properly vouched, was forwarded to the State Department, to be "deposited and remain in the archives of the Government." Mr.Seward had thus adapted the simplest, most convenient, and least expensive process for the administration of the oath of loyalty.