The New York herald., 1864-12-15
| sherman Before savannan-A Despatch
/ from His night Wing.

been for some time shrOuded, and lets In tho
full blaze OF sunlight upon his position. On
Friday last he was within ten miles Of Savan-
nah. and General Foster states in bis despatch
that tho rebel works in front Of the city were
probably attacked on last Sunday.
As We conjecture, from the facts communi-
Gated, Sherman's army, on the north side OF Sa-
vanDab, holds line stretching from the river on
the left to the inlets connecting with Ossabaw
Sound on the right, and that he is thus COM
municating with the navy. In position, II |
necessary, to proceed to the work Of regular |
siege. We still expect, however, to hear that
the city has been carried by assault, or shelled
into capitulation. That he means to take 1t,
and will accomplish the job, cannot be doubted.
His forces and means are abundant, and the |
advantages which he has already secured Will
enable him TO cut of reiufCrcements and sup
plies for the enemy on every side. The navy |
holds the river below, and he has only to |
blockade it above to make complete invest |
meut Of the city, Foster being in possession
Of its approaches on the Carolina side
But what military advantages will be gained
with the possession Of Savannah? A glance at
the map Of Georgia will satisfy the reader that
they will be very great The possession Of the
city will secure the control of the river to the
head of steamboat navigation, which is some
considerable distance above Augusta. The
possession Of the river, in fact, will be another
Mississippi operation, making another split of
the confederacy, between South Carolina and
Georgia. Holding as we do Chattanooga on
the north, it is only necessary, for military pur-
poses, to hold Savannah and the line Of the
river to Augusta, to make the separation COM
plete, railroads, telegraphs and all. Thus,
Hood aud Governor Brown will be left in
confederacy Of three States, Georgia, Alabama
and Mississippi, to themselves; while that Of
JEFF. Davis will be practically raced to South
ern Virginia, North and South Carolina.
Such is the object and the purpose Of Gene
raj Sherman in his march for Savannah. Al
ready, in the railroads brsken up on his line of
march, and in those which he now holds, be
has effectually cut off Davis for weeks to come
from his communications with the supplies Of
Georgia. terrible blow has been dealt to
JEFF. In the very heart of the "confederaoy,"
and we dare say that not many days will elapse
before its effects will be made manifest at Rich
mond. Meantime, we suspect that the mer-
chants Of Charleston are selling of ct less than
cost The great conflict Is coming to focus.
THE BANKRUPT BILL IN C0NGREss--The pas
sage of the Bankrupt bill through the House of
Representatives, by decisive vote. is an indi-
cation Of its passage through the Senate; but at
A. - t. Anot khnr Sc
being prepared in the latter body, and if 20,
the two may come into collision and both be
lost. We publish the House bill in another
column.
One Of the reaa difficulties which has pre-.
vented the earlier adoption Of this very neces-
sary measure, is the great length of the bills
| themselves, caused by their numerous details,
requirements and formalities, puzzling to
most comprehensions, and offering innumerable
loopholes for evasion, and opportunities for
interminable subsequent lawsuits to settle the
meaning Of the words Of the acts. All this
might be very easily avoided, and BY the SIM
plest kind Of legislation. A proper bankrupt act
need not contain more than half dozen sections.
These should define bankruptcy, voluntary
and involuntary, when the insolvent may peti-
ton for relief and when the creditor may bring
an insolvent debtor into court. They should
declare what courts should have jurisdiction,
and Ok their process their officers and their
fees. They should provide for the surrender
and division Of the effects Of the insolvent in
the speediest manner
All the rest would be mere technical prac-
tice, and could be provided for by authorizing
the Attorney General to prepare code Of
procedure under the general law subject to
the approval of the United States Supreme
Court, amendable from time to time as expe,
rience might dictate. Otherwise Il will be an
interminable job, as well as a most expensive
one, to obtain the benefit Of the act. A single
mistake by an ignorant lawyer will upset
discharge at any future day, as is now 30
frequently the case under eur State insolvsnt
laws. = ...s.
Tho forms OF procedure are the more in
struments of the courts, and are Of little i'm
portance in themselves. These are not the
subject Of legislation. Settle the principles Of
the bill and the courts will arrange the g,,id
Abcts and q,tod lbets in their own way. But
The House bill bad better be at once adopted
by the Senate. and let time and experience
correct all errors and mistakes.
THH TRIUMPH OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY
Irs DEYEAT.-Itis Ii In accordance with the phi
losophy Of things that whom party is elevated
TO power for the accomplishment Of great ends
and fails II will DO swept out of existence.
The republican party was successful at the last
two elections because the people believed that
II would put tdowa the rebellion and bring back
peace to the country; but its victorious triumph
will assuredy prove its defeat. The FIRST four
years Of rule left tho rebellion unsuppressed,