15103,marx,capitalv1,1867,c31,32,33,capitalist,accumulation,colonialism

7/22/2019 15103,Marx,CapitalV1,1867,C31,32,33,Capitalist,Accumulation,Colonialism

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KarlMarx,1867,CapitalVolumeOne,Chapters31,32and33

PartVIII:PrimitiveAccumulation

ChapterThirty

One

GenesisoftheIndustrialCapitalist

Thegenesisoftheindustrial[1]capitalistdidnotproceedinsuchagradualwayasthatof

thefarmer.Doubtlessmanysmallguildmasters,andyetmoreindependentsmall

artisans,orevenwagelabourers,transformedthemselvesintosmallcapitalists,and(by

graduallyextending

exploitation

of

wage

labour

and

corresponding

accumulation)

into

fullblowncapitalists.Intheinfancyofcapitalistproduction,thingsoftenhappenedasin

theinfancyofmedievaltowns,wherethequestion,whichoftheescapedserfsshouldbe

masterandwhichservant,wasingreatpartdecidedbytheearlierorlaterdateoftheir

flight.Thesnail'spaceofthismethodcorrespondedinnowisewiththecommercial

requirementsofthenewworldmarketthatthegreatdiscoveriesoftheendofthe15th

centurycreated.Butthemiddleageshadhandeddowntwodistinctformsofcapital,

whichmatureinthemostdifferenteconomicsocialformations,andwhichbeforetheera

ofthecapitalistmodeofproduction,areconsideredascapitalquandmmeusurer's

capitalandmerchant'scapital.

"Atpresent,allthewealthofsocietygoesfirstintothepossessionofthecapitalist...he

paysthelandownerhisrent,thelabourerhiswages,thetaxandtithegatherertheir

claims,andkeepsalarge,indeedthelargest,andacontinuallyaugmentingshare,ofthe

annualproduceoflabourforhimself.Thecapitalistmaynowbesaidtobethefirstowner

ofallthewealthofthecommunity,thoughnolawhasconferredonhimtherighttothis

property...thischangehasbeeneffectedbythetakingofinterestoncapital...anditis

notalittlecuriousthatallthelawgiversofEuropeendeavouredtopreventthisby

statutes,viz.,

statutes

against

usury....

The

power

of

the

capitalist

over

all

the

wealth

of

thecountryisacompletechangeintherightofproperty,andbywhatlaw,orseriesof

laws,wasiteffected?"[2]Theauthorshouldhaverememberedthatrevolutionsarenot

madebylaws.

Themoneycapitalformedbymeansofusuryandcommercewaspreventedfromturning

intoindustrialcapital,inthecountrybythefeudalconstitution,inthetownsbytheguild

organisation.[3]Thesefettersvanishedwiththedissolutionoffeudalsociety,withthe

expropriationandpartialevictionofthecountrypopulation.Thenewmanufactureswere

establishedat

Weapons,

or

at

inland

points

beyond

the

control

of

the

old

municipalities


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andtheirguilds.HenceinEnglandanembitteredstruggleofthecorporatetownsagainst

thesenewindustrialnurseries.

ThediscoveryofgoldandsilverinAmerica,theextirpation,enslavementand

entombmentinminesoftheaboriginalpopulation,thebeginningoftheconquestand

lootingoftheEastIndies,theturningofAfricaintoawarrenforthecommercialhunting

ofblack

skins,

signalised

the

rosy

dawn

of

the

era

of

capitalist

production.

These

idyllic

proceedingsarethechiefmomentaofprimitiveaccumulation.Ontheirheelstreadsthe

commercialwaroftheEuropeannations,withtheglobeforatheatre.Itbeginswiththe

revoltoftheNetherlandsfromSpain,assumesgiantdimensionsinEngland'sAntiJacobin

War,andisstillgoingonintheopiumwarsagainstChina,&c.

Thedifferentmomentaofprimitiveaccumulationdistributethemselvesnow,moreor

lessinchronologicalorder,particularlyoverSpain,Portugal,Holland,France,and

England.InEnglandattheendofthe17thcentury,theyarriveatasystematical

combination,embracing

the

colonies,

the

national

debt,

the

modern

mode

of

taxation,

andtheprotectionistsystem.Thesemethodsdependinpartonbruteforce,e.g.,the

colonialsystem.But,theyallemploythepoweroftheState,theconcentratedand

organisedforceofsociety,tohasten,hothousefashion,theprocessoftransformationof

thefeudalmodeofproductionintothecapitalistmode,andtoshortenthetransition.

Forceisthemidwifeofeveryoldsocietypregnantwithanewone.Itisitselfaneconomic

power.

OftheChristiancolonialsystem,W.Howitt,amanwhomakesaspecialityofChristianity,

says:

"The

barbarities

and

desperate

outrages

of

the

so

called

Christian

race,

throughout

everyregionoftheworld,anduponeverypeopletheyhavebeenabletosubdue,arenot

tobeparalleledbythoseofanyotherrace,howeverfierce,howeveruntaught,and

howeverrecklessofmercyandofshame,inanyageoftheearth."[4]Thehistoryofthe

colonialadministrationofHollandandHollandwastheheadcapitalisticnationofthe

17thcentury"isoneofthemostextraordinaryrelationsoftreachery,bribery,

massacre,andmeanness"[5]Nothingismorecharacteristicthantheirsystemofstealing

men,togetslavesforJava.Themenstealersweretrainedforthispurpose.Thethief,the

interpreter,andtheseller,werethechiefagentsinthistrade,nativeprincesthechief

sellers.The

young

people

stolen,

were

thrown

into

the

secret

dungeons

of

Celebes,

until

theywerereadyforsendingtotheslaveships.Anofficialreportsays:"Thisonetownof

Macassar,e.g.,isfullofsecretprisons,onemorehorriblethantheother,crammedwith

unfortunates,victimsofgreedandtyrannyfetteredinchains,forciblytornfromtheir

families."TosecureMalacca,theDutchcorruptedthePortuguesegovernor.Heletthem

intothetownin1641.Theyhurriedatoncetohishouseandassassinatedhim,to

"abstain"fromthepaymentof21,875,thepriceofhistreason.Wherevertheysetfoot,

devastationanddepopulationfollowed.Banjuwangi,aprovinceofJava,in1750

numberedover80,000inhabitants,in1811only18,000.Sweetcommerce!


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TheEnglishEastIndiaCompany,asiswellknown,obtained,besidesthepoliticalrulein

India,theexclusivemonopolyoftheteatrade,aswellasoftheChinesetradeingeneral,

andofthetransportofgoodstoandfromEurope.ButthecoastingtradeofIndiaand

betweentheislands,aswellastheinternaltradeofIndia,werethemonopolyofthe

higheremploysofthecompany.Themonopoliesofsalt,opium,betelandother

commodities,wereinexhaustibleminesofwealth.Theemploysthemselvesfixedthe

priceand

plundered

at

will

the

unhappy

Hindus.

The

Governor

General

took

part

in

this

privatetraffic.Hisfavouritesreceivedcontractsunderconditionswherebythey,cleverer

thanthealchemists,madegoldoutofnothing.Greatfortunesspranguplikemushrooms

inaday;primitiveaccumulationwentonwithouttheadvanceofashilling.Thetrialof

WarrenHastingsswarmswithsuchcases.Hereisaninstance.Acontractforopiumwas

giventoacertainSullivanatthemomentofhisdepartureonanofficialmissiontoapart

ofIndiafarremovedfromtheopiumdistrict.SullivansoldhiscontracttooneBinnfor

40,000;Binnsolditthesamedayfor60,000,andtheultimatepurchaserwhocarried

out

the

contract

declared

that

after

all

he

realised

an

enormous

gain.

According

to

one

of

thelistslaidbeforeParliament,theCompanyanditsemploysfrom17571766got

6,000,000fromtheIndiansasgifts.Between1769and1770,theEnglishmanufactured

afaminebybuyingupallthericeandrefusingtosellitagain,exceptatfabulousprices.

[6]

Thetreatmentoftheaborigineswas,naturally,mostfrightfulinplantationcolonies

destinedforexporttradeonly,suchastheWestIndies,andinrichandwellpopulated

countries,suchasMexicoandIndia,thatweregivenovertoplunder.Buteveninthe

coloniesproperlysocalled,theChristiancharacterofprimitiveaccumulationdidnot

belieitself.ThosesobervirtuosiofProtestantism,thePuritansofNewEngland,in1703,

bydecreesoftheirassemblysetapremiumof40oneveryIndianscalpandevery

capturedredskin:in1720apremiumof100oneveryscalp;in1744,after

MassachusettsBayhadproclaimedacertaintribeasrebels,thefollowingprices:fora

malescalpof12yearsandupwards100(newcurrency),foramaleprisoner105,for

womenandchildrenprisoners50,forscalpsofwomenandchildren50.Somedecades

later,thecolonialsystemtookitsrevengeonthedescendantsofthepiouspilgrim

fathers,whohadgrownseditiousinthemeantime.AtEnglishinstigationandforEnglish

paythey

were

tomahawked

by

red

skins.

The

British

Parliament

proclaimed

bloodhounds

andscalpingas"meansthatGodandNaturehadgivenintoitshand."

Thecolonialsystemripened,likeahothouse,tradeandnavigation.The"societies

Monopolia"ofLutherwerepowerfulleversforconcentrationofcapital.Thecolonies

securedamarketforthebuddingmanufactures,and,throughthemonopolyofthe

market,anincreasedaccumulation.ThetreasurescapturedoutsideEuropeby

undisguisedlooting,enslavement,andmurder,floatedbacktothemothercountryand

werethereturnedintocapital.Holland,whichfirstfullydevelopedthecolonialsystem,in

1648

stood

already

in

the

acme

of

its

commercial

greatness.

It

was

"in

almost

exclusive

possessionoftheEastIndiantradeandthecommercebetweenthesoutheastand


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northwestofEurope.Itsfisheries,marine,manufactures,surpassedthoseofanyother

country.ThetotalcapitaloftheRepublicwasprobablymoreimportantthanthatofall

therestofEuropeputtogether."Glichforgetstoaddthatby1648,thepeopleof

Hollandweremoreoverworked,poorerandmorebrutallyoppressedthanthoseofall

therestofEuropeputtogether.

Today

industrial

supremacy

implies

commercial

supremacy.

In

the

period

of

manufactureproperlysocalled,itis,ontheotherhand,thecommercialsupremacythat

givesindustrialpredominance.Hencethepreponderantrlethatthecolonialsystem

playsatthattime.Itwas"thestrangeGod"whoperchedhimselfonthealtarcheekby

jowlwiththeoldGodsofEurope,andonefinedaywithashoveandakickchuckedthem

allofaheap.Itproclaimedsurplusvaluemakingasthesoleendandaimofhumanity.

Thesystemofpubliccredit,i.e.,ofnationaldebts,whoseoriginwediscoverinGenoaand

Veniceasearlyasthemiddleages,tookpossessionofEuropegenerallyduringthe

manufacturingperiod.

The

colonial

system

with

its

maritime

trade

and

commercial

wars

servedasaforcinghouseforit.ThusitfirsttookrootinHolland.Nationaldebts,i.e.,the

alienationofthestate whetherdespotic,constitutionalorrepublican markedwithits

stampthecapitalisticera.Theonlypartofthesocallednationalwealththatactually

entersintothecollectivepossessionsofmodernpeoplesistheirnationaldebt.[7]Hence,

asanecessaryconsequence,themoderndoctrinethatanationbecomesthericherthe

moredeeplyitisindebt.Publiccreditbecomesthecredoofcapital.Andwiththeriseof

nationaldebtmaking,wantoffaithinthenationaldebttakestheplaceoftheblasphemy

againsttheHolyGhost,whichmaynotbeforgiven.

Thepublicdebtbecomesoneofthemostpowerfulleversofprimitiveaccumulation.As

withthestrokeofanenchanter'swand,itendowsbarrenmoneywiththepowerof

breedingandthusturnsitintocapital,withoutthenecessityofitsexposingitselftothe

troublesandrisksinseparablefromitsemploymentinindustryoreveninusury.The

state creditorsactuallygivenothingaway,forthesumlentistransformedintopublic

bonds,easilynegotiable,whichgoonfunctioningintheirhandsjustassomuchhard

cashwould.Butfurther,apartfromtheclassoflazyannuitantsthuscreated,andfrom

theimprovisedwealthofthefinanciers,middlemenbetweenthegovernmentandthe

nation

asalso

apart

from

the

tax

farmers,

merchants,

private

manufacturers,

to

whom

a

goodpartofeverynationalloanrenderstheserviceofacapitalfallenfromheaven the

nationaldebthasgivenrisetojointstockcompanies,todealingsinnegotiableeffectsof

allkinds,andtoagiotage,inawordtostockexchangegamblingandthemodern

bankocracy.

Attheirbirththegreatbanks,decoratedwithnationaltitles,wereonlyassociationsof

privatespeculators,whoplacedthemselvesbythesideofgovernments,and,thanksto

theprivilegestheyreceived,wereinapositiontoadvancemoneytotheState.Hencethe

accumulationof

the

national

debt

has

no

more

infallible

measure

than

the

successive

rise

inthestockofthesebanks,whosefulldevelopmentdatesfromthefoundingoftheBank


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515103/3

ofEnglandin1694.TheBankofEnglandbeganwithlendingitsmoneytothe

Governmentat8%;atthesametimeitwasempoweredbyParliamenttocoinmoneyout

ofthesamecapital,bylendingitagaintothepublicintheformofbanknotes.Itwas

allowedtousethesenotesfordiscountingbills,makingadvancesoncommodities,and

forbuyingthepreciousmetals.Itwasnotlongerethiscreditmoney,madebythebank

itself,became.thecoininwhichtheBankofEnglandmadeitsloanstotheState,and

paid,on

account

of

the

State,

the

interest

on

the

public

debt.

It

was

not

enough

that

the

bankgavewithonehandandtookbackmorewiththeother;itremained,evenwhilst

receiving,theeternalcreditorofthenationdowntothelastshillingadvanced.Gradually

itbecameinevitablythereceptacleofthemetallichoardofthecountry,andthecentre

ofgravityofallcommercialcredit.Whateffectwasproducedontheircontemporariesby

thesuddenuprisingofthisbroodofbankocrats,financiers,rentiers,brokers,stock

jobbers,&c.,isprovedbythewritingsofthattime,e.g.,byBolingbroke's.[8]

Withthenationaldebtaroseaninternationalcreditsystem,whichoftenconcealsoneof

thesources

of

primitive

accumulation

in

this

or

that

people.

Thus

the

villainies

of

the

VenetianthievingsystemformedoneofthesecretbasesofthecapitalwealthofHolland

towhomVeniceinherdecadencelentlargesumsofmoney.SoalsowasitwithHolland

andEngland.Bythebeginningofthe18thcenturytheDutchmanufactureswerefar

outstripped.Hollandhadceasedtobethenationpreponderantincommerceand

industry.Oneofitsmainlinesofbusiness,therefore,from17011776,isthelendingout

ofenormousamountsofcapital,especiallytoitsgreatrivalEngland.Thesamethingis

goingontodaybetweenEnglandandtheUnitedStates.Agreatdealofcapital,which

appearstodayintheUnitedStateswithoutanycertificateofbirth,wasyesterday,in

England,thecapitalisedbloodofchildren.

Asthenationaldebtfindsitssupportinthepublicrevenue,whichmustcovertheyearly

paymentsforinterest,&c.,themodernsystemoftaxationwasthenecessary

complementofthesystemofnationalloans.Theloansenablethegovernmenttomeet

extraordinaryexpenses,withoutthetaxpayersfeelingitimmediately,butthey

necessitate,as.aconsequence,increasedtaxes.Ontheotherhand,theraisingof

taxationcausedbytheaccumulationofdebtscontractedoneafteranother,compelsthe

governmentalwaystohaverecoursetonewloansfornewextraordinaryexpenses.

Modernfiscality,

whose

pivot

is

formed

by

taxes

on

the

most

necessary

means

of

subsistence(therebyincreasingtheirprice),thuscontainswithinitselfthegermof

automaticprogression.Overtaxationisnotanincident,butratheraprinciple.InHolland,

therefore,wherethissystemwasfirstinaugurated,thegreatpatriot,DeWitt,hasinhis

"Maxims"extolleditasthebestsystemformakingthewagelabourersubmissive,frugal,

industrious,andoverburdenedwithlabour.Thedestructiveinfluencethatitexerciseson

theconditionofthewagelabourerconcernsuslesshowever,here,thantheforcible

expropriation,resultingfromit,ofpeasants,artisans,andinaword,allelementsofthe

lower

middle

class.

On

this

there

are

not

two

opinions,

even

among

the

bourgeois


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615103/3

economists.Itsexpropriatingefficacyisstillfurtherheightenedbythesystemof

protection,whichformsoneofitsintegralparts.

Thegreatpartthatthepublicdebt,andthefiscalsystemcorrespondingwithit,has

playedinthecapitalisationofwealthandtheexpropriationofthemasses,hasledmany

writers,likeCobbett,Doubledayandothers,toseekinthis,incorrectly,thefundamental

causeof

the

misery

of

the

modern

peoples.

Thesystemofprotectionwasanartificialmeansofmanufacturingmanufacturers,of

expropriatingindependentlabourers,ofcapitalisingthenationalmeansofproduction

andsubsistence,offorciblyabbreviatingthetransitionfromthemedievaltothemodern

modeofproduction.TheEuropeanstatestoreoneanothertopiecesaboutthepatentof

thisinvention,and,onceenteredintotheserviceofthesurplusvaluemakers,didnot

merelylayundercontributioninthepursuitofthispurposetheirownpeople,indirectly

throughprotectiveduties,directlythroughexportpremiums.Theyalsoforciblyrooted

out,in

their

dependent

countries,

all

industry,

as,

e.g.,

England

did.

with

the

Irish

woollen

manufacture.OnthecontinentofEurope,afterColbert'sexample,theprocesswasmuch

simplified.Theprimitiveindustrialcapital,here,cameinpartdirectlyoutofthestate

treasury."Why,"criesMirabeau,"whygosofartoseekthecauseofthemanufacturing

gloryofSaxonybeforethewar?180,000,000ofdebtscontractedbythesovereigns!"[9]

Colonialsystem,publicdebts,heavytaxes,protection,commercialwars,&c.,these

childrenofthetruemanufacturingperiod,increasegiganticallyduringtheinfancyof

ModemIndustry.Thebirthofthelatterisheraldedbyagreatslaughteroftheinnocents.

Like

the

royal

navy,

the

factories

were

recruited

by

means

of

the

press

gang.

Blas

as

Sir

F.M.Edenisastothehorrorsoftheexpropriationoftheagriculturalpopulationfrom

thesoil,fromthelastthirdofthe15thcenturytohisowntime;withalltheself

satisfactionwithwhichherejoicesinthisprocess,"essential"forestablishingcapitalistic

agricultureand"thedueproportionbetweenarableandpastureland"hedoesnot

show,however,thesameeconomicinsightinrespecttothenecessityofchildstealing

andchildslaveryforthetransformationofmanufacturingexploitationintofactory

exploitation,andtheestablishmentofthe"truerelation"betweencapitalandlabour

power.Hesays:"Itmay,perhaps,beworthytheattentionofthepublictoconsider,

whetherany

manufacture,

which,

in

order

to

be

carried

on

successfully,

requires

that

cottagesandworkhousesshouldberansackedforpoorchildren;thattheyshouldbe

employedbyturnsduringthegreaterpartofthenightandrobbedofthatrestwhich,

thoughindispensabletoall,ismostrequiredbytheyoung;andthatnumbersofboth

sexes,ofdifferentagesanddispositions,shouldbecollectedtogetherinsuchamanner

thatthecontagionofexamplecannotbutleadtoprofligacyanddebauchery;willaddto

thesumofindividualornationalfelicity?"[10]

"InthecountiesofDerbyshire,Nottinghamshire,andmoreparticularlyinLancashire,"

saysFielden,

"the

newly

invented

machinery

was

used

in

large

factories

built

on

the

sides

ofstreamscapableofturningthewaterwheel.Thousandsofhandsweresuddenly


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requiredintheseplaces,remotefromtowns;andLancashire,inparticular,being,till

then,comparativelythinlypopulatedandbarren,apopulationwasallthatshenow

wanted.Thesmallandnimblefingersoflittlechildrenbeingbyveryfarthemostin

request,thecustominstantlysprangupofprocuringapprenticesfromthedifferent

parishworkhousesofLondon,Birmingham,andelsewhere.Many,manythousandsof

theselittle,haplesscreaturesweresentdownintothenorth,beingfromtheageof7to

theage

of

13

or

14

years

old.

The

custom

was

for

the

master

to

clothe

his

apprentices

andtofeedandlodgetheminan"apprenticehouse"nearthefactory;overseerswere

appointedtoseetotheworks,whoseinterestitwastoworkthechildrentotheutmost,

becausetheirpaywasinproportiontothequantityofworkthattheycouldexact.

Crueltywas,ofcourse,theconsequence....Inmanyofthemanufacturingdistricts,but

particularly,Iamafraid,intheguiltycountytowhichIbelong[Lancashire],crueltiesthe

mostheartrendingwerepractisedupontheunoffendingandfriendlesscreatureswho

werethusconsignedtothechargeofmastermanufacturers;theywereharassedtothe

brink

of

death

by

excess

of

labour

...

were

flogged,

fettered

and

tortured

in

the

most

exquisiterefinementofcruelty;...theywereinmanycasesstarvedtothebonewhile

floggedtotheirworkand...eveninsomeinstances...weredriventocommitsuicide....

ThebeautifulandromanticvalleysofDerbyshire,NottinghamshireandLancashire,

secludedfromthepubliceye,becamethedismalsolitudesoftorture,andofmanya

murder.Theprofitsofmanufacturerswereenormous;butthisonlywhettedtheappetite

thatitshouldhavesatisfied,andthereforethemanufacturershadrecoursetoan

expedientthatseemedtosecuretothemthoseprofitswithoutanypossibilityoflimit;

theybeganthepracticeofwhatistermed"nightworking,"thatis,havingtiredonesetof

hands,by

working

them

throughout

the

day,

they

had

another

set

ready

to

go

on

workingthroughoutthenight;thedaysetgettingintothebedsthatthenightsethad

justquilted,andintheirturnagain,thenightsetgettingintothebedsthatthedayset

quiltedinthemorning.ItisacommontraditioninLancashire,thatthebedsneverget

cold."

Withthedevelopmentofcapitalistproductionduringthemanufacturingperiod,the

publicopinionofEuropehadlostthelastremnantofshameandconscience.Thenations

braggedcynicallyofeveryinfamythatservedthemasameanstocapitalistic

accumulation.Read,

e.g.,

the

nave

Annals

of

Commerce

of

the

worthy

A.

Anderson.

Here

itistrumpetedforthasatriumphofEnglishstatecraftthatatthePeaceofUtrecht,

EnglandextortedfromtheSpaniardsbytheAsientoTreatytheprivilegeofbeingallowed

toplythenegrotrade,untilthenonlycarriedonbetweenAfricaandtheEnglishWest

Indies,betweenAfricaandSpanishAmericaaswell.Englandtherebyacquiredtheright

ofsupplyingSpanishAmericauntil1743with4,800negroesyearly.Thisthrew,atthe

sametime,anofficialcloakoverBritishsmuggling.Liverpoolwaxedfatontheslave

trade.Thiswasitsmethodofprimitiveaccumulation.And,eventothepresentday,

Liverpool"respectability"isthePindaroftheslavetradewhichcomparetheworkof

Aikin[1795]

already

quoted

"has

coincided

with

that

spirit

of

bold

adventure

which


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hascharacterisedthetradeofLiverpoolandrapidlycarriedittoitspresentstateof

prosperity;hasoccasionedvastemploymentforshippingandsailors,andgreatly

augmentedthedemandforthemanufacturesofthecountry"(p.339).Liverpool

employedintheslavetrade,in1730,15ships;in1751,53;in1760,74;in1770,96;and

in1792,132.[12]

Whilstthe

cotton

industry

introduced

child

slavery

in

England,

it

gave

in

the

United

Statesastimulustothetransformationoftheearlier,moreorlesspatriarchalslavery,

intoasystemofcommercialexploitation.Infact,theveiledslaveryofthewageworkers

inEuropeneeded,foritspedestal,slaverypureandsimpleinthenewworld.

Tantaemoliserat,toestablishthe"eternallawsofNature"ofthecapitalistmodeof

production,tocompletetheprocessofseparationbetweenlabourersandconditionsof

labour,totransform,atonepole,thesocialmeansofproductionandsubsistenceinto

capital,attheoppositepole,themassofthepopulationintowagelabourers,into"free

labouringpoor,"

that

artificial

product

of

modern

society.

[13]

If

money,

According

to

Augier,[14]"comesintotheworldwithacongenitalbloodstainononecheek,"capital

comesdrippingfromheadtofoot,fromeverypore,withbloodanddirt.[15]

ChapterThirtyTwo

HistoricalTendencyofCapitalistAccumulation

Whatdoestheprimitiveaccumulationofcapital,i.e.,itshistoricalgenesis,resolveitself

into?Insofarasitisnotimmediatetransformationofslavesandserfsintowage

labourers,andthereforeamerechangeofform,itonlymeanstheexpropriationofthe

immediateproducers,i.e.,thedissolutionofprivatepropertybasedonthelabourofits

owner.Privateproperty,astheantithesistosocial,collectiveproperty,existsonlywhere

themeansoflabourandtheexternalconditionsoflabourbelongtoprivateindividuals.

Butaccordingastheseprivateindividualsarelabourersornotlabourers,privateproperty

hasadifferent

character.

The

numberless

shades,

that

it

at

first

sight

presents,

correspondtotheintermediatestageslyingbetweenthesetwoextremes.Theprivate

propertyofthelabourerinhismeansofproductionisthefoundationofpettyindustry,

whetheragricultural,manufacturing,orboth;pettyindustry,again,isanessential

conditionforthedevelopmentofsocialproductionandofthefreeindividualityofthe

labourerhimself.Ofcourse,thispettymodeofproductionexistsalsounderslavery,

serfdom,andotherstatesofdependence.Butitflourishes,itletslooseitswholeenergy,

itattainsitsadequateclassicalform,onlywherethelaboureristheprivateownerofhis

ownmeansoflaborsetinactionbyhimself:thepeasantofthelandwhichhecultivates,

theartisan

of

the

tool

which

he

handles

as

avirtuoso.

This

mode

of

production

pre


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915103/3

supposesparcellingofthesoilandscatteringoftheothermeansofproduction.Asit

excludestheconcentrationofthesemeansofproduction,soalsoitexcludesco

operation,divisionoflaborwithineachseparateprocessofproduction,thecontrolover,

andtheproductiveapplicationoftheforcesofNaturebysociety,andthefree

developmentofthesocialproductivepowers.Itiscompatibleonlywithasystemof

production,andasociety,movingwithinnarrowandmoreorlessprimitivebounds.To

perpetuateit

would

be,

as

Pecqueur

rightly

says,

"to

decree

universal

mediocrity".

At

a

certainstageofdevelopment,itbringsforththematerialagenciesforitsowndissolution.

Fromthatmomentnewforcesandnewpassionsspringupinthebosomofsociety;but

theoldsocialorganizationfettersthemandkeepsthemdown.Itmustbeannihilated;it

isannihilated.Itsannihilation,thetransformationoftheindividualizedandscattered

meansofproductionintosociallyconcentratedones,ofthepigmypropertyofthemany

intothehugepropertyofthefew,theexpropriationofthegreatmassofthepeoplefrom

thesoil,fromthemeansofsubsistence,andfromthemeansoflabour,thisfearfuland

painful

expropriation

of

the

mass

of

the

people

forms

the

prelude

to

the

history

of

capital.Itcomprisesaseriesofforciblemethods,ofwhichwehavepassedinreviewonly

thosethathavebeenepochmakingasmethodsoftheprimitiveaccumulationofcapital.

Theexpropriationoftheimmediateproducerswasaccomplishedwithmerciless

Vandalism,andunderthestimulusofpassionsthemostinfamous,themostsordid,the

pettiest,themostmeanlyodious.Selfearnedprivateproperty,thatisbased,sotosay,

onthefusingtogetheroftheisolated,independentlabouringindividualwiththe

conditionsofhislabour,issupplantedbycapitalisticprivateproperty,whichrestson

exploitationofthenominallyfreelabourofothers,i.e.,onwagelabour.[1]

Assoonasthisprocessoftransformationhassufficientlydecomposedtheoldsociety

fromtoptobottom,assoonasthelaborersareturnedintoproletarians,theirmeansof

laborintocapital,assoonasthecapitalistmodeofproductionstandsonitsownfeet,

thenthefurthersocializationoflabourandfurthertransformationofthelandandother

meansofproductionintosociallyexploitedand,therefore,commonmeansof

production,aswellasthefurtherexpropriationofprivateproprietors,takesanewform.

Thatwhichisnowtobeexpropriatedisnolongerthelaborerworkingforhimself,butthe

capitalistexploitingmanylabourers.Thisexpropriationisaccomplishedbytheactionof

theimmanent

laws

of

capitalistic

production

itself,

by

the

centralization

of

capital.

One

capitalistalwayskillsmany.Handinhandwiththiscentralization,orthisexpropriationof

manycapitalistsbyfew,develop,onaneverextendingscale,thecooperativeformof

thelaborprocess,theconscioustechnicalapplicationofscience,themethodical

cultivationofthesoil,thetransformationoftheinstrumentsoflaborintoinstrumentsof

laboronlyusableincommon,theeconomizingofallmeansofproductionbytheiruseas

meansofproductionofcombined,socializedlabor,theentanglementofallpeoplesin

thenetoftheworldmarket,andwiththis,theinternationalcharacterofthecapitalistic

regime.Alongwiththeconstantlydiminishingnumberofthemagnatesofcapital,who

usurpandmonopolisealladvantagesofthisprocessoftransformation,growsthemass


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1015103/3

ofmisery,oppression,slavery,degradation,exploitation;butwiththistoogrowsthe

revoltoftheworkingclass,aclassalwaysincreasinginnumbers,anddisciplined,united,

organizedbytheverymechanismoftheprocessofcapitalistproductionitself.The

monopolyofcapitalbecomesafetteruponthemodeofproduction,whichhassprungup

andflourishedalongwith,andunderit.Centralisationofthemeansofproductionand

socialisationoflabouratlastreachapointwheretheybecomeincompatiblewiththeir

capitalistintegument.

Thus

integument

is

burst

asunder.

The

knell

of

capitalist

private

propertysounds.Theexpropriatorsareexpropriated.

Thecapitalistmodeofappropriation,theresultofthecapitalistmodeofproduction,

producescapitalistprivateproperty.Thisisthefirstnegationofindividualprivate

property,asfoundedonthelaboroftheproprietor.Butcapitalistproductionbegets,

withtheinexorabilityofalawofNature,itsownnegation.Itisthenegationofnegation.

Thisdoesnotreestablishprivatepropertyfortheproducer,butgiveshimindividual

property

based

on

the

acquisition

of

the

capitalist

era:

i.e.,

on

co

operation

and

the

possessionincommonofthelandandofthemeansofproduction.

Thetransformationofscatteredprivateproperty,arisingfromindividuallabour,into

capitalistprivatepropertyis,naturally,aprocess,incomparablymoreprotracted,violent,

anddifficult,thanthetransformationofcapitalisticprivateproperty,alreadypractically

restingonsocialisedproduction,intosocialisedproperty.Intheformercase,wehadthe

expropriationofthemassofthepeoplebyafewusurpers;inthelatter,wehavethe

expropriationofafewusurpersbythemassofthepeople.[2]

ChapterThirtyThree

TheModernTheoryofColonisation

Politicaleconomyconfusesonprincipletwoverydifferentkindsofprivateproperty,of

whichone

rests

on

the

producers'

own

labor,

the

other

on

the

employment

of

the

labor

ofothers.Itforgetsthatthelatternotonlyisthedirectantithesisoftheformer,but

absolutelygrowsonitstombonly.InWesternEurope,thehomeofPoliticalEconomy,

theprocessofprimitiveaccumulationismoreoflessaccomplished.Herethecapitalist

regimehaseitherdirectlyconqueredthewholedomainofnationalproduction,or,where

economicconditionsarelessdeveloped,it,atleast,indirectlycontrolsthosestrataof

societywhich,thoughbelongingtotheantiquatedmodeofproduction,continuetoexist

sidebysidewithitingradualdecay.Tothisreadymadeworldofcapital,thepolitical

economistappliesthenotionsoflawandofpropertyinheritedfromaprecapitalistic

worldwith

all

the

more

anxious

zeal

and

all

the

greater

unction,

the

more

loudly

the

facts


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1115103/3

cryoutinthefaceofhisideology.Itisotherwiseinthecolonies.Therethecapitalist

regimeeverywherecomesintocollisionwiththeresistanceoftheproducer,who,as

ownerofhisownconditionsoflabor,employsthatlabortoenrichhimself,insteadofthe

capitalist.Thecontradictionofthesetwodiametricallyopposedeconomicsystems,

manifestitselfherepracticallyinastrugglebetweenthem.Wherethecapitalisthasathis

backthepowerofthemothercountry,hetriestoclearoutofhiswaybyforcethe

modesof

production

and

appropriation

based

on

the

independent

labor

of

the

producer.

Thesameinterest,whichcompelsthesycophantofcapital,thepoliticaleconomist,inthe

mothercountry,toproclaimthetheoreticalidentityofthecapitalistmodeofproduction

withitscontrary,thatsameinterestcompelshiminthecoloniestomakeacleanbreast

ofit,andtoproclaimaloudtheantagonismofthetwomodesofproduction.Tothisend,

heproveshowthedevelopmentofthesocialproductivepoweroflabor,cooperation,

divisionoflabor,useofmachineryonalargescale,&c.,areimpossiblewithoutthe

expropriationofthelabourers,andthecorrespondingtransformationoftheirmeansof

production

into

capital.

In

the

interest

of

the

so

called

national

wealth,

he

seeks

for

artificialmeanstoensurethepovertyofthepeople.Herehisapologeticarmourcrumbles

off,bitbybit,likerottentouchwood.ItisthegreatmeritofE.G.Wakefieldtohave

discovered,notanythingnewabouttheColonies[2],buttohavediscoveredinthe

Coloniesthetruthastotheconditionsofcapitalistproductioninthemothercountry.As

thesystemofprotectionatitsorigin[3]attemptedtomanufacturecapitalistsartificially

inthemothercountry,soWakefield'scolonisationtheory,whichEnglandtriedforatime

toenforcebyActsofParliament,attemptedtoeffectthemanufactureofwageworkers

intheColonies.Thishecalls"systematiccolonisation".

Firstofall,WakefielddiscoveredthatintheColonies,propermeansofsubsistence,

machines,andothermeansofproduction,doesnotasyetstampamanasacapitalistif

therebewantingthecorrelativethewageworker,theothermanwhoiscompelledto

sellhimselfofhisownfreewill.Hediscoveredthatcapitalisnotathing,butasocial

relationbetweenpersons,establishedbytheinstrumentalityofthings.[4]Mr.Peel,he

moans,tookhimfromEnglandtoSwanRiver,WestAustralia,meansofsubsistenceand

ofproductiontotheamountof50,000.Mr.Peelhadtheforesighttobringwithhim,

besides,3,000personsoftheworkingclass,men,women,andchildren.Oncearrivedat

hisdestination,

"Mr.

Peel

was

left

without

aservant

to

make

his

bed

or

fetch

him

water

fromtheriver."[5]UnhappyMr.Peelwhoprovidedforeverythingexcepttheexportof

EnglishmodesofproductiontoSwanRiver!

FortheunderstandingofthefollowingdiscoveriesofWakefield,twopreliminary

remarks:Weknowthatthemeansofproductionandsubsistence,whiletheyremainthe

propertyoftheimmediateproducer,arenotcapital.Theybecomecapitalonlyunder

circumstancesinwhichtheyserveatthesametimeasmeansofexploitationand

subjectionofthelabourer.Butthiscapitalistsouloftheirsissointimatelywedded,inthe

head

of

the

political

economist,

to

their

material

substance,

that

he

christens

them

capitalunderallcircumstances,evenwhentheyareitsexactopposite.Thusisitwith


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1215103/3

Wakefield.Further:thesplittingupofthemeansofproductionintotheindividual

propertyofmanyindependentlabourers,workingontheirownaccount,hecallsequal

divisionofcapital.Itiswiththepoliticaleconomistaswiththefeudaljurist.Thelatter

stuckontopuremonetaryrelationsthelabelssuppliedbyfeudallaw.

"If,"saysWakefield,"allmembersofthesocietyaresupposedtopossessequalportions

ofcapital...

no

man

would

have

amotive

for

accumulating

more

capital

than

he

could

use

withhisownhands.ThisistosomeextentthecaseinnewAmericansettlements,where

apassionforowninglandpreventstheexistenceofaclassoflabourersforhire."[6]So

long,therefore,asthelabourercanaccumulateforhimselfandthishecandosolong

asheremainspossessorofhismeansofproductioncapitalistaccumulationandthe

capitalisticmodeofproductionareimpossible.Theclassofwagelabourers,essentialto

these,iswanting.How,then,inoldEurope,wastheexpropriationofthelabourerfrom

hisconditionsoflabour,i.e.,thecoexistenceofcapitalandwagelabour,broughtabout?

Byasocialcontractofaquiteoriginalkind."Mankindhaveadopteda...simple

contrivancefor

promoting

the

accumulation

of

capital,"

which,

of

course,

since

the

time

ofAdam,floatedintheirimagination,floatedintheirimaginationasthesoleandfinal

endoftheirexistence:"theyhavedividedthemselvesintoownersofcapitalandowners

oflabour....Thedivisionwastheresultofconcertandcombination."[7]Inoneword:the

massofmankindexpropriateditselfinhonourofthe"accumulationofcapital".Now,one

wouldthinkthatthisinstinctofselfdenyingfanaticismwouldgiveitselffullfling

especiallyintheColonies,wherealoneexistthemenandconditionsthatcouldturna

socialcontractfromadreamtoareality.Butwhy,then,should"systematiccolonisation"

becalledintoreplaceitsopposite,spontaneous,unregulatedcolonisation?But but "In

theNorthernStatesoftheAmericanUnion;itmaybedoubtedwhethersomanyasa

tenthofthepeoplewouldfallunderthedescriptionofhiredlabourers....InEngland...

thelabouringclasscomposethebulkofthepeople."[8]Nay,theimpulsetoself

expropriationonthepartoflabouringhumanityforthegloryofcapital,existssolittle

thatslavery,accordingtoWakefieldhimself,isthesolenaturalbasisofColonialwealth.

Hissystematiccolonisationisamerepisaller,sinceheunfortunatelyhastodowithfree

men,notwithslaves."ThefirstSpanishsettlersinSaintDomingodidnotobtainlabourers

fromSpain.But,withoutlabourers,theircapitalmusthaveperished,oratleast,must

soonhave

been

diminished

to

that

small

amount

which

each

individual

could

employ

withhisownhands.ThishasactuallyoccurredinthelastColonyfoundedbyEngland

theSwanRiverSettlementwhereagreatmassofcapital,ofseeds,implements,and

cattle,hasperishedforwantoflabourerstouseit,andwherenosettlerhaspreserved

muchmorecapitalthanhecanemploywithhisownhands."[9]

Wehaveseenthattheexpropriationofthemassofthepeoplefromthesoilformsthe

basisofthecapitalistmodeofproduction.Theessenceofafreecolony,onthecontrary,

consistsinthisthatthebulkofthesoilisstillpublicproperty,andeverysettleronit

therefore

can

turn

part

of

it

into

his

private

property

and

individual

means

of

production,

withouthinderingthelatersettlersinthesameoperation.[10]Thisisthesecretbothof


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1315103/3

theprosperityofthecoloniesandoftheirinveterateviceoppositiontothe

establishmentofcapital."Wherelandisverycheapandallmenarefree,whereevery

onewhosopleasescaneasilyobtainapieceoflandforhimself,notonlyislabourvery

dear,asrespectsthelabourersshareoftheproduce,butthedifficultyistoobtain

combinedlabouratanyprice."[11]

Asin

the

colonies

the

separation

of

the

laborer

from

the

conditions

of

labor

and

their

root,thesoil,doesnotexist,oronlysporadically,orontoolimitedascale,soneither

doestheseparationofagriculturefromindustryexist,notthedestructionofthe

householdindustryofthepeasantry.Whencethenistocometheinternalmarketfor

capital?"NopartofthepopulationofAmericaisexclusivelyagricultural,exceptingslaves

andtheiremployerswhocombinecapitalandlaborinparticularworks.FreeAmericans,

whocultivatethesoil,followmanyotheroccupations.Someportionofthefurnitureand

toolswhichtheyuseiscommonlymadebythemselves.Theyfrequentlybuildtheirown

houses,andcarrytomarket,atwhateverdistance,theproduceoftheirownindustry.

Theyare

spinners

and

weavers;

they

make

soap

and

candles,

as

well

as,

in

many

cases,

shoesandclothesfortheirownuse.InAmericathecultivationoflandisoftenthe

secondarypursuitofablacksmith,amillerorashopkeeper."[12]Withsuchqueer

peopleasthese,whereisthe"fieldofabstinence"forthecapitalists?

Thegreatbeautyofcapitalistproductionconsistsinthisthatitnotonlyconstantly

reproducesthewageworkeraswageworker,butproducesalways,inproductiontothe

accumulationofcapital,arelativesurpluspopulationofwageworkers.Thusthelawof

supplyanddemandoflaboriskeptintherightrut,theoscillationofwagesispenned

withinlimits

satisfactory

to

capitalist

exploitation,

and

lastly,

the

social

dependence

of

thelaboreronthecapitalist,thatindispensablerequisite,issecured;anunmistakable

relationofdependence,whichthesmugpoliticaleconomist,athome,inthemother

country,cantransmogrifyintooneoffreecontractbetweenbuyerandseller,between

equallyindependentownersofcommodities,theownerofthecommoditycapitaland

theownerofthecommoditylabour.Butinthecolonies,thisprettyfancyistornasunder.

Theabsolutepopulationhereincreasesmuchmorequicklythaninthemothercountry,

becausemanylabourersenterthisworldasreadymadeadults,andyetthelabour

marketisalwaysunderstocked.Thelawofsupplyanddemandoflabourfallstopieces.

Onthe

one

hand,

the

old

world

constantly

throws

in

capital,

thirsting

after

exploitation

and"abstinence";ontheother,theregularreproductionofthewagelaboureraswage

labourercomesintocollisionwithimpedimentsthemostimpertinentandinpart

invincible.Whatbecomesoftheproductionofwagelabourersintoindependent

producers,whoworkforthemselvesinsteadofforcapital,andenrichthemselvesinstead

ofthecapitalistgentry,reactsinitsturnveryperverselyontheconditionsofthelabour

market.Notonlydoesthedegreeofexploitationofthewagelabourerremainindecently

low.Thewagelabourerlosesintothebargain,alongwiththerelationofdependence,

also

the

sentiment

of

dependence

on

the

abstemious

capitalist.

Hence

all

the

inconveniencesthatourE.G.Wakefieldpicturessodoughtily,soeloquently,so


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1415103/3

pathetically.Thesupplyofwagelabour,hecomplains,isneitherconstant,norregular,

norsufficient."Thesupplyoflabourisalwaysnotonlysmallbutuncertain."[13]"Though

theproducedividedbetweenthecapitalistandthelabourerbelarge,thelabourertakes

sogreatasharethathesoonbecomesacapitalist....Few,eventhosewhoselivesare

unusuallylong,canaccumulategreatmassesofwealth."[14]Thelabourersmost

distinctlydeclinetoallowthecapitalisttoabstainfromthepaymentofthegreaterpart

oftheir

labour.

It

avails

him

nothing,

is

he

is

so

cunning

as

to

import

from

Europe,

with

hisowncapital,hisownwageworkers.Theysoon"cease...tobelabourersforhire;

they...becomeindependentlandowners,ifnotcompetitorswiththeirformermastersin

thelabourmarket."[15]Thinkofthehorror!Theexcellentcapitalisthasimportedbodily

fromEurope,withhisowngoodmoney,hisowncompetitors!Theendoftheworldhas

come!NowonderWakefieldlamentstheabsenceofalldependenceandofallsentiment

ofdependenceonthepartofthewageworkersinthecolonies.Onaccountofthehigh

wages,sayshisdisciple,Merivale,thereisinthecolonies"theurgentdesireforcheaper

and

more

subservient

labourers

for

a

class

to

whom

the

capitalist

might

dictate

terms,

insteadofbeingdictatedtobythem....Inancientcivilisedcountriesthelabourer,though

free,isbyalawofNaturedependentoncapitalists;incoloniesthisdependencemustbe

createdbyartificialmeans."[16]

Whatisnow,accordingtoWakefield,theconsequenceofthisunfortunatestateofthings

inthecolonies?A"barbarisingtendencyofdispersion"ofproducersandnational

wealth.[17]Theparcellingoutofthemeansofproductionamonginnumerableowners,

workingontheirownaccount,annihilates,alongwiththecentralisationofcapital,allthe

foundationofcombinedlabor.Everylongwindedundertaking,extendingoverseveral

yearsanddemandingoutlayoffixedcapital,ispreventedfrombeingcarriedout.In

Europe,capitalinvestswithouthesitatingamoment,fortheworkingclassconstitutesits

livingappurtenance,alwaysinexcess,alwaysatdisposal.Butinthecolonies!Wakefield

tellsandextremelydolefulanecdote.HewastalkingwithsomecapitalistsofCanadaand

thestateofNewYork,wheretheimmigrantwaveoftenbecomesstagnantanddepositsa

sedimentof"supernumerary"labourers."Ourcapital,"saysoneofthecharactersinthe

melodrama,"wasreadyformanyoperationswhichrequireaconsiderableperiodoftime

fortheircompletion;butwecouldnotbeginsuchoperationswithlaborwhich,weknew,

wouldsoon

leave

us.

If

we

had

been

sure

of

retraining

the

labor

of

such

emigrants,

we

shouldhavebeengladtohaveengageditatonce,andforahighprice:andweshould

haveengagedit,eventhoughwehadbeensureitwouldleaveus,providedwehadbeen

sureofafreshsupplywheneverwemightneedit."[18]

AfterWakefieldhasconstructedtheEnglishcapitalistagricultureandits"combined"

labourwiththescatteredcultivationofAmericanpeasants,heunwittinglygivesusa

glimpseatthereverseofthemedal.HedepictsthemassoftheAmericanpeopleaswell

todo,independent,enterprising,andcomparativelycultured,whilst"theEnglish

agricultural

labourer

is

miserable

wretch,

a

pauper....

In

what

country,

except

North

Americaandsomenewcolonies,dothewagesoffreelabouremployedinagriculture


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1515103/3

muchexceedabaresubsistenceforthelabourer?...Undoubtedly,farmhorsesin

England,beingavaluableproperty,arebetterfedthanEnglishpeasants."[19]But,never

mind,nationalwealthis,onceagain,byitsverynature,identicalwithmiseryofthe

people.

How,then,tohealtheanticapitalisticcancerofthecolonies?Ifmenwerewilling,ata

blow,to

turn

all

the

soil

from

public

into

private

property,

they

would

destroy

certainly

therootoftheevil,butalsothecolonies.Thetrickishowtokilltwobirdswithone

stone.LettheGovernmentputuponthevirginsoilanartificialprice,independentofthe

lawofsupplyanddemand,apricethatcompelstheimmigranttoworkalongtimefor

wagesbeforehecanearnenoughmoneytobuyland,andturnhimselfintoan

independentpeasant.[20]Thefundresultingfromthesaleoflandatapricerelatively

prohibitoryforthewageworkers,thisfundofmoneyextortedfromthewagesoflabour

byviolationofthesacredlawofsupplyanddemand,theGovernmentistoemploy,on

theotherhand,inproportionasitgrows;toimporthavenothingsfromEuropeintothe

colonies,and

thus

keep

the

wage

labour

market

full

for

the

capitalists.

Under

these

circumstances,toutserapourlemieuxdanslemeilleurdesmondespossibles.Thisisthe

greatsecretof"systematiccolonisation".Bythisplan,Wakefieldcriesintriumph,"the

supplyoflabormustbeconstantandregular,because,first,asnolaborerwouldbeable

toprocurelanduntilhehadworkedformoney,allimmigrantlaborers,workingfora

timeforwagesandincombination,wouldproducecapitalfortheemploymentofmore

laborers;secondly,becauseeverylabourerwholeftoffworkingforwagesandbecamea

landownerwould,bypurchasingland,provideafundforbringingfreshlabourtothe

colony."[21]ThepriceofthesoilimposedbytheStatemust,ofcourse,bea"sufficient

price"i.e.,sohigh"astopreventthelabourersfrombecomingindependent

landownersuntilothershadfollowedtotaketheirplace."[22]This"sufficientpricefor

theland"isnothingbutaeuphemisticcircumlocutionfortheransomwhichthelabourer

paystothecapitalistforleavetoretirefromthewagelabourmarkettotheland.First,he

mustcreateforthecapitalist"capital",withwhichthelattermaybeabletoexploitmore

labourers;thenhemustplace,athisownexpense,alocumtenensonthelabourmarket,

whomtheGovernmentforwardsacrosstheseaforthebenefitofhisoldmaster,the

capitalist.

Itis

very

characteristic

that

the

English

Government

for

years

practised

this

method

of

"primitiveaccumulation"prescribedbyMr.Wakefieldexpresslyfortheuseofthe

colonies.Thefiascowas,ofcourse,ascompleteasthatofSirRobertPeel'sBankAct.The

streamofemigrationwasonlydivertedfromtheEnglishcoloniestotheUnitedStates.

Meanwhile,theadvanceofcapitalisticproductioninEurope,accompaniedbyincreasing

Governmentpressure,hasrenderedWakefield'srecipesuperfluous.Ontheonehand,

theenormousandceaselessstreamofmen,yearafteryeardrivenuponAmerica,leaves

behindastationarysedimentintheeastoftheUnitedStates,thewaveofimmigration

from

Europe

throwing

men

on

the

labor

market

there

more

rapidly

than

the

wave

of

emigrationwestwardscanwashthemaway.Ontheotherhand,theAmericanCivilWar


16/16

1615 10 3/3

broughtinitstrainacolossalnationaldebt,and,withit,pressureoftaxes,theriseofthe

vilestfinancialaristocracy,thesquanderingofahugepartofthepubliclandon

speculativecompaniesfortheexploitationofrailways,mines,&c.,inbrief,themost

rapidcentralizationofcapital.Thegreatrepublichas,therefore,ceasedtobethe

promisedlandforemigrantlabourers.Capitalisticproductionadvancestherewithgiant

strides,eventhoughtheloweringofwagesandthedependenceofthewageworkerare

yetfar

from

being

brought

down

to

the

normal

European

level.

The

shameless

lavishing

ofuncultivatedcoloniallandonaristocratsandcapitalistsbytheGovernment,soloudly

denouncedevenbyWakefield,hasproduced,especiallyinAustralia[23],inconjunction

withthestreamofmenthatthegolddiggingsattract,andwiththecompetitionthatthe

importationofEnglishcommoditiescauseseventothesmallestartisan,anample

"relativesurpluslabouringpopulation",sothatalmosteverymailbringstheJob'snewsof

a"glutoftheAustralialabourmarket",andtheprostitutioninsomeplacesflourishesas

wantonlyasintheLondonHaymarket.

However,we

are

not

concerned

here

with

the

conditions

of

the

colonies.

The

only

thing

thatinterestsusisthesecretdiscoveredinthenewworldbythePoliticalEconomyofthe

oldworld,andproclaimedonthehousetops:thatthecapitalistmodeofproductionand

accumulation,andthereforecapitalistprivateproperty,havefortheirfundamental

conditiontheannihilationofselfearnedprivateproperty;inotherwords,the

expropriationofthelaborer.

TranscribedbyZodiac

From:http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1867c1/ch31.htm

And:http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1867c1/ch32.htm

And:http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1867c1/ch33.htm

Course:MarxsCapital,Volume1

15103,Marx,CapitalV1,1867,C31,32,33,Capitalist,Accumulation,Colonialism

8290words
http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1867-c1/ch31.htmhttp://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1867-c1/ch31.htmhttp://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1867-c1/ch31.htmhttp://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1867-c1/ch31.htmhttp://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1867-c1/ch32.htmhttp://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1867-c1/ch32.htmhttp://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1867-c1/ch32.htmhttp://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1867-c1/ch32.htmhttp://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1867-c1/ch33.htmhttp://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1867-c1/ch33.htmhttp://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1867-c1/ch33.htmhttp://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1867-c1/ch33.htmhttp://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1867-c1/ch33.htmhttp://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1867-c1/ch32.htmhttp://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1867-c1/ch31.htm

15103,marx,capitalv1,1867,c31,32,33,capitalist,accumulation,colonialism

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