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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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
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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
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