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The United States Humiliated.

The correspondence between Mr. Seward and Lord Lyons, to be found in our telegraph column, will be read with feelings of profound regret by every American citizen who loves the honor and dignity of his country. England has demanded the unconditional release of Mason and Slidell, and the administration has agreed to comply with the demand.

Thus is the United States humiliated, at the dictation of that perfidious power which has never forgiven us that we were once her subjects, and which never forgets, that, united, we are now her superior. We are much mistaken in the disposition and temper of our people, if the administration can retain their confidence after this crowning disgrace — after this shameful retraction of official declarations and official approval, made by a member of the cabinet with the consent of the president himself.

True, it may be said that if the act of Captain Wilkes was a violation of international law, it should be atoned for, but if it was a violation of law it should never have received the approval of the administration, through the secretary of navy's report to congress, and his letter of approval and thanks to Captain Wilkes. Was there no man connected with the administration sufficiently versed in the law of nations to determine whether our government should commit itself in approval of an act, which, under the open threats of England, we should be compelled to disavow?

Has the administration no supporter in congress who could raise his voice against a vote of thanks to Capt. Wilkes for doing that, for which our government was prepared to apologize?

Countless mistakes, reckless profligacy of expenditure, swindling and corruption unequalled in the history of our country, have, so far, characterized the administration's conduct of the war, but its management of the Mason and Slidell case, will, we think, stand pre-eminent as the most stupendous piece of mismanagement which has yet disfigured the brief record of Mr. Lincoln's rule.