Marx_Articles in Rheinische Zeitung 1842

7/25/2019 Marx_Articles in Rheinische Zeitung 1842

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Articles inRheinische Zeitung1842

Proceedings of the Sixth Rhine Province

Assembly.Third Article.

Debates on the Law on Thefts of Wood

Written: October 1842 [88];

First published: in the Supplement to theRheinische Zeitung, Nos 2!8, "##, "#", "#$

%nd "#&, October 2$, 2& %nd "#, No'ember 1 %nd ", 1842;(r%nsl%ted: b) *lemens +utt

Sined: a Rhinelander;

(r%nscribed: b) director-m%r.or, No'ember 1!!/

Rheinische Zeitng! "o. #$%! S&&lement! 'ctober #( )%*#

RZ editorial note+

0We reret th%t e h%'e not been %ble to publish thesecond%rticle or our re%ders

3ditori%l bo%rd o theRheinische Zeitung.0

So %r e h%'e described to most import%nt st%te %cts o the ro'inci%l Assembl),

n%mel), its conusion o'er reedom o the press %nd its unreedom in re%rd to the

conusion [2]We h%'e no come don to round le'el 5eore e proceed to the

re%ll) e%rthl) 6uestion in %ll its lie7sie, the 6uestion o the p%rcell%tion o l%nded

propert), e sh%ll i'e our re%ders some enre pictures hich relect in m%niold %)s

the spirit %nd, e miht s%), e'en the %ctu%l ph)sic%l n%ture o the Assembl)

9t is true th%t the l% on thets o ood, lie the l% on oences in re%rd to huntin,

orests %nd ields, deser'es to be discussed not onl) in rel%tion to the Assembl) but

e6u%ll) on its on %ccount oe'er, e do not h%'e the dr%t o the l% beore us Ourm%teri%l is limited to some '%uel) indic%ted %dditions m%de b) the Assembl) %nd its

commission to l%s th%t iure onl) %s p%r%r%ph numbers (he Assembl) proceedins

themsel'es %re reported so e.tremel) me%erl), incoherentl) %nd %pocr)ph%ll) th%t the

report loos lie %n %ttempt %t m)stiic%tion (o


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sub


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Another urb%n deput), hoe'er, reuted him ith the proound %rument

0th%t in the orest %re%s o his reion, %t irst onl) %shes ere m%de in )oun trees, %nd

l%ter, hen the) ere de%d, the) ere tre%ted %s %llen ood0

9t ould be impossible to ind % more ele%nt %nd %t the s%me time more simple methodo m%in the riht o hum%n beins i'e %) to th%t o )oun trees On the one h%nd,

%ter the %doption o the p%r%r%ph, it is ine'it%ble th%t m%n) people not o % crimin%l

disposition %re cut o rom the reen tree o mor%lit) %nd c%st lie %llen ood into the

hell o crime, in%m) %nd miser) On the other h%nd, %ter re

(he supreme pen%l code ["]includes under thet o ood onl) the pilerin o hen

ood %nd the cuttin o ood or the purpose o thet 9ndeed 77 our ro'inci%l

Assembl) ill not belie'e it 77 it st%tes:

09, hoe'er, in d%)time someone t%es ruit or e%tin %nd b) its remo'%l does no re%t

d%m%e, then, t%in into %ccount his person%l position %nd the circumst%nces, he is to

be punished b) ci'il0 ?thereore, not crimin%l>@ 0proceedins0

(he supreme pen%l code o the si.teenth centur) re6uests us to deend it %%inst the

ch%re o e.cessi'e hum%nit) m%de b) % hine ro'ince Assembl) o the nineteenth

centur), %nd e compl) ith this re6uest

(he %therin o %llen ood %nd the most composite ood thet> (he) both h%'e %

common deinition (he %ppropri%tion o ood rom someone else (hereore both %re

thet (h%t is the sum %nd subst%nce o the %r7sihted loic hich h%s


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(he %therin o %llen ood %nd the thet o ood %re thereore essenti%ll) dierent

thins (he ob


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0to re%rd it %s %n %r%'%tin circumst%nce i roin timber is hen or cut o ith

eded tools %nd i % s% is used inste%d o %n %.e0

(he Assembl) %ppro'es this distinction (he s%me een7sihtedness hich so

conscientiousl) distinuishes beteen %n %.e %nd % s% hen it is % m%tter o its on

interests, is so l%cin in conscience %s to reuse to distinuish beteen %llen ood %ndroin ood hen it is % 6uestion o other people=s interests (he dierence %s

ound to be import%nt %s %n %r%'%tin circumst%nce but ithout %n) siniic%nce %s %

miti%tin circumst%nce, %lthouh the ormer c%nnot e.ist i the l%tter is impossible

(he s%me loic occurred repe%tedl) durin the deb%te

9n re%rd to G/$, %n urb%n deput) desired

0th%t the valueo the stolen ood %lso should be used %s % me%sure or i.in the

punishment0, 0hich %s opposed b) the commission=s spoesm%n %s unpractical0

(he s%me urb%n deput) rem%red in connection ith G//:

0in ener%l there is missin rom the hole l% %n) st%tement o '%lue, in %ccord%nce

ith hich the punishment ould be incre%sed or diminished0

(he import%nce o '%lue in determinin punishment or 'iol%tions o propert) is sel7

e'ident

9 the concept o crime in'ol'es th%t o punishment, the %ctu%l crime c%lls or % me%sure

o punishment An %ctu%l crime h%s its limit (he punishment ill thereore h%'e to be

limited in order to be %ctu%l, it must be limited in %ccord%nce ith % principle o l% in

order to be (he orest oner 77 e sh%ll de%l ith this l%ter in more det%il 77 does not

merel) dem%nd to be compens%ted b) the thie or the simple ener%l '%lue e e'eni'es this '%lue %n indi'idu%l ch%r%cter %nd b%ses his dem%nd or speci%l compens%tion


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on this poetic indi'idu%lit) We c%n no underst%nd h%t the commission=s spoesm%n

underst%nds b)practical.(he pr%ctic%l orest oner %rues %s ollos: (his le%l

deinition is ood inso%r %s it is useul to me, or h%t is useul to me is ood 5ut this

le%l deinition is superluous, it is h%rmul, it is unpr%ctic%l, inso%r %s it is intended to

be %pplied to the %ccused on the b%sis o % purel) theoretic%l le%l him Since the

%ccused is h%rmul to me, it st%nds to re%son th%t e'er)thin is h%rmul to me th%tlessens the h%rm comin to him (h%t is pr%ctic%l isdom

We unpr%ctic%l people, hoe'er, dem%nd or the poor, politic%ll) %nd soci%ll)

propert)less m%n) h%t the le%rned %nd ould7be le%rned ser'ilit) o so7c%lled

histori%ns h%s disco'ered to be the true philosopher=s stone or turnin e'er) sordid

cl%im into the pure old o riht We dem%nd or the poor % customary right, %nd indeed

one hich is not o % loc%l ch%r%cter but is % custom%r) riht o the poor in %ll countries

We o still urther %nd m%int%in th%t % custom%r) riht b) its 'er) n%ture c%n onlybe %

riht o this loest, propert)less %nd element%l m%ss

(he so7c%lled customs o the pri'ileed cl%sses %re understood to me%n customscontrary to the law.(heir oriin d%tes to the period in hich hum%n histor) %s p%rt o

natural history, %nd in hich, %ccordin to 3)pti%n leend, %ll ods conce%led

themsel'es in the sh%pe o %nim%ls D%nind %ppe%red to %ll into deinite species o

%nim%ls hich ere connected not b) e6u%lit), but b) ine6u%lit), %n ine6u%lit) i.ed b)

l%s (he orld condition o unreedom re6uired l%s e.pressin this unreedom, or

here%s hum%n l% is the mode o e.istence o reedom, this %nim%l l% is the mode o

e.istence o unreedomFeudalismin the bro%dest sense is thespiritual animal

ingdom, the orld o di'ided m%nind, in contr%st to the hum%n orld th%t cre%tes its

on distinctions %nd hose ine6u%lit) is nothin but % rer%cted orm o e6u%lit) 9n the

countries o n%i'e eud%lism, in the countries o the c%ste s)stem, here in the liter%l

sense o the ord people %re put in sep%r%te bo.es [b], %nd the noble, reel)

interch%nin members o the re%t s%cred bod), the hol) um%nus, %re s%n %nd clet

%sunder, orcibl) torn %p%rt, e ind thereore %lso the worship of animals, %nim%l

reliion in its primiti'e orm, or m%n %l%)s re%rds %s his hihest bein th%t hich is

his true bein (he sole e6u%lit) to be ound in the %ctu%l lie o %nim%ls is the e6u%lit)

beteen one %nim%l %nd other %nim%ls o the s%me species; it is the e6u%lit) o the i'en

species ith itsel, but not the e6u%lit) o the enus (he %nim%l enus itsel is seen onl)

in the hostile beh%'iour o the dierent %nim%l species, hich %ssert their p%rticul%r

distinctivech%r%cteristics one %%inst %nother 9n thestomach of the beast of prey, n%ture

h%s pro'ided the b%ttleield o union, the crucible o closest usion, the or%n connectin

the '%rious %nim%l species

Simil%rl), under eud%lism one species eeds %t the e.pense o %nother, riht don to the

species hich, lie the pol)p, ros on the round %nd h%s onl) numerous %rms ith

hich to pluc the ruits o the e%rth or hiher r%ces hile it itsel e%ts dust or here%s

in the n%tur%l %nim%l indom the orer bees ill the drones, in the spiritu%l %nim%l

indom the drones ill the orer bees, %nd precisel) b) l%bour When the pri'ileed

cl%sses %ppe%l rom legal rightto their customary rights, the) %re dem%ndin inste%d o

the hum%n content o riht, its %nim%l orm, hich h%s no lost its re%lit) %nd become %

mere %nim%l m%s
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Rheinische Zeitng! "o. ,--! S&&lement! 'ctober # )%*#

(he custom%r) rihts o the %ristocr%c) conlict b) their contentith the orm o

uni'ers%l l% (he) c%nnot be i'en the orm o l% bec%use the) %re orm%tions o

l%lessness (he %ct th%t their content is contr%r) to the orm o l% 77 uni'ers%lit) %nd

necessit) 77 pro'es th%t the) %re customary wrongs%nd c%nnot be %sserted in oppositionto the l%, but %s such opposition the) must be %bolished %nd e'en punished i the

occ%sion %rises, or no one=s %ction ce%ses to be ronul bec%use it is his custom,


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%ccident%l support hich the poor ound in the mon%steries %s not repl%ced b) %n)

other positi'e source o income When the propert) o the mon%steries %s con'erted

into pri'%te propert) %nd the mon%steries recei'ed some compens%tion, the poor ho

li'ed b) the mon%steries ere not compens%ted On the contr%r), % ne restriction %s

imposed on them, hile the) ere depri'ed o %n %ncient riht (his occurred in %ll

tr%nsorm%tions o pri'ilees into rihts A positi'e %spect o these %buses 77 hich %s%lso %n %buse bec%use it turned % riht o one side into somethin %ccident%l 77 %s

%bolished not b) the %ccident%l bein con'erted into % necessit), but b) its bein let out

o consider%tion

(hese leisl%tions ere necess%ril) one7sided, or %ll custom%r) rihts o the poor ere

b%sed on the %ct th%t cert%in orms o propert) ere indetermin%te in ch%r%cter, or the)

ere not deinitel) pri'%te propert), but neither ere the) deinitel) common propert),

bein % mi.ture o pri'%te %nd public riht, such %s e ind in %ll the institutions o the

Diddle Aes For the purpose o leisl%tion, such %mbiuous orms could be r%sped

onl) b) underst%ndin, %nd underst%ndin is not onl) one7sided, but h%s the essenti%l

unction o m%in the orld one7sided, % re%t %nd rem%r%ble or, or onl) one7sidedness c%n e.tr%ct the p%rticul%r rom the unor%nised m%ss o the hole %nd i'e it

sh%pe (he ch%r%cter o % thin is % product o underst%ndin 3%ch thin must isol%te

itsel %nd become isol%ted in order to be somethin 5) coninin e%ch o the contents

o the orld in % st%ble deiniteness %nd %s it ere solidi)in the luid essence o this

content, underst%ndin brins out the m%niold di'ersit) o the orld, or the orld

ould not be m%n)7sided ithout the m%n) one7sidednesses

Knderst%ndin thereore %bolished the h)brid, indetermin%te orms o propert) b)

%ppl)in to them the e.istin c%teories o %bstr%ct ci'il l%, the model or hich %s

%'%il%ble in om%n l% (he leisl%ti'e mind considered it %s the more


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the trees %nd stems hich %re irml) rooted %nd ull o s%p, or%nic%ll) %ssimil%tin %ir,

liht, %ter %nd soil to de'elop their on proper orm %nd indi'idu%l lie 9t is % ph)sic%l

represent%tion o po'ert) %nd e%lth um%n po'ert) senses this inship %nd deduces

its riht to propert) rom this eelin o inship 9, thereore, it cl%ims ph)sic%l or%nic

e%lth or the predetermined propert) oners, it cl%ims ph)sic%l po'ert) or need %nd

its ortuit) 9n this pl%) o element%l orces, po'ert) senses % beneicent poer morehum%ne th%n hum%n poer (he ortuitous %rbitr%r) %ction o pri'ileed indi'idu%ls is

repl%ced b) the ortuitous oper%tion o element%l orces, hich t%e %%) rom pri'%te

propert) h%t the l%tter no loner 'olunt%ril) oreoes Just %s it is not ittin or the

rich to l%) cl%im to %lms distributed in the street, so %lso in re%rd to these alms of

nature.5ut it is b) its activity, too, th%t po'ert) %c6uires its riht 5) its %ct o

gathering, the element%l cl%ss o hum%n societ) %ppoints itsel to introduce order %mon

the products o the element%l poer o n%ture (he position is simil%r in re%rd to those

products hich, bec%use o their ild roth, %re % holl) %ccident%l %ppend%e o

propert) %nd, i onl) bec%use o their unimport%nce, %re not %n ob


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rihts 5ut i the st%te is not hum%ne, rich %nd hih7minded enouh or this, it is %t le%st

the leisl%tor=s %bsolute dut) not to con'ert into % crimeh%t circumst%nces %lone h%'e

c%used to be %n offence.e must e.ercise the utmost lenienc) in correctin %s % soci%l

irregularityh%t it ould be the heiht o in


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the%ational%bout Luiot (hese ords could be inscribed %s % motto o'er %ll

legislation inspired by self!interest, %nd thereore b) cowardice.

When the S%mo)eds ill %n %nim%l, beore sinnin it the) %ssure it in the most serious

tones th%t onl) ussi%ns h%'e done it this in


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th%t he ould not protect the valueo the ob


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%rdens, but th%t somethin must o necessit) be done to pre'ent inrinements rom

incre%sin0

An urban deputys%id:

0*redence must be i'en to %ll testimon) o properl) %ppointed %nd sorn orestoici%ls Iie %ppointment is, so to spe%, %n impossibilit) or m%n) communities, %nd

especi%ll) or oners o sm%ll est%tes A decision th%t onl) orest oici%ls ho h%'e

been %ppointed or lie should be trusted, ould depri'e these oners o %ll orest

protection 9n % l%re p%rt o the pro'ince, communities %nd pri'%te oners ould

necess%ril) h%'e to entrust the protection o their ooded %re%s to ield %rdens,

bec%use their orest %re% is not l%re enouh to en%ble them to %ppoint speci%l oresters

or it 9t ould indeed be str%ne i these ield %rdens, ho h%'e %lso t%en %n o%th to

protect the orests, ere not to en


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m%idser'%nt, let him sit there himsel %s not the %ccused the s%me riht in re%rd to

the e.ecuti'e poer, hich is %n or%n o the st%te, %s he h%s in re%rd to the

o completel) unsound the tempor%r) hirin o % denouncin %rden is, c%nnot bemore l%rinl) shon th%n b) %n %rument %d'%nced againstlie %ppointment, hich

c%nnot be %ttributed to % slip o the tonue, or it %s re%d out (he olloin rem%r,

n%mel), %s re%d out b) %n urb%n deput):

0*ommunit) orest %rdens %ppointed or lie %re not, %nd c%nnot be, under such strict

control %s ro)%l oici%ls 3'er)spurto lo)%l ulilment o dut) isparalysedb) lie

%ppointment 9 the orest %rden onl) h%l perorms his dut) %nd t%es c%re th%t he

c%nnot be ch%red ith %n) re%l oence, he ill %l%)s ind suicient %d'oc%c) in his

%'our to m%e % propos%l or his dismiss%l under G$/ useless 9n such circumst%nces the

interested p%rties ill not e'en d%re to put or%rd such % propos%l0


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We rec%ll th%t it %s decreed th%t the %rden m%in the ch%re should be i'en ull

conidence hen it %s % 6uestion o entrustin him ith the t%s o '%lu%tion We

rec%ll th%t G4 %s % vote of confidencein the %rden

We no le%rn or the irst time th%t the denouncin %rden needs to be controlled, %nd

strictl) controlled For the irst time he %ppe%rs not merel) %s % m%n, but %s % horse,since spurs %nd odder %re the onl) stimuli o his conscience, %nd the muscles or

perormin his dut) %re not merel) sl%cened but completel) p%r%l)sed b) lie

%ppointment We see th%t selishness h%s % double set o eihts %nd me%sures or

eihin %nd me%surin people, %nd to orld outloos, to p%irs o spect%cles, one

shoin e'er)thin bl%c %nd the other in ros) tints When it is % m%tter o m%in

other people the 'ictim o its tools %nd i'in % %'our%ble %ppe%r%nce to dubious

me%ns, selishness puts on its rose7coloured spect%cles, hich imp%rt %n im%in%r)

lor) to these tools %nd me%ns, %nd deludes itsel %nd others ith the unpr%ctic%l,

delihtul dre%min o % tender %nd trustin soul 3'er) rinle o its counten%nce

e.presses smilin bonhomie 9t presses its opponent=s h%nd until it hurts, but it does so

%s % sin o its trust in him 5ut suddenl) it is % 6uestion o person%l %d'%nt%e, oc%reull) testin the useulness o tools %nd me%ns behind the scenes here st%e

illusions %re %bsent 5ein % strict


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%ccused %%inst the orest %rden Cour control is his ultim%te %nd onl) u%r%ntee

9mbued ith % '%ue notion o )our person%l e.cellence, r%pt in poetic sel7deliht,

)ou oer the p%rties in the c%se )our indi'idu%l 6u%lities %s % me%ns o protection

%%inst )our l%s 9 coness th%t 9 do not sh%re this rom%ntic conception o the orest

oners 9 do not %t %ll belie'e th%t persons c%n be % u%r%ntee %%inst l%s; on the

contr%r), 9 belie'e th%t l%s must be % u%r%ntee %%inst persons And c%n e'en the mostd%rin %nt%s) im%ine th%t men ho in the noble or o leisl%tion c%nnot or %

moment rise %bo'e the n%rro, pr%ctic%ll) b%se st%ndpoint o sel7seein to the

theoretic%l heiht o % uni'ers%l %nd ob


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ill %nts the st%te to h%nd o'er the e'il7doer to it to de%l ith %t its discretion 9t

dem%ndsplein pouvoir []9t does not oppose the restriction o ree ill it opposes the

mannero this restriction, hich is so restricti'e th%t it %ects not onl) the inriner o

orest reul%tions but %lso the oner o the ood +oes not this ree ill %nt to h%'e

numerous reedomsB 9s it not % 'er) ree, %n e.cellent, ree illB And is it not

sc%nd%lous in the nineteenth centur) to d%re to restrict 0so re%tl) in this %)0 the reeill o those pri'%te persons ho promul%te public l%sB 9t is, indeed, sc%nd%lous

3'en th%t obstin%te reormer, ree ill, must As i lie %ppointment %s not %imed precisel) %%inst pri'%te persons,

ho %re the ones th%t evoe misgivings Rien n'est plus terrible (ue la logi(ue dans

l'absurdit)[h], th%t is to s%), nothin is more terrible th%n the loic o selishness

(his loic, hich turns the ser'%nt o the orest oner into % st%te %uthorit), turns the

authority of the state into a servant of the forest owner.(he st%te structure, the purpose

o the indi'idu%l %dministr%ti'e %uthorities, e'er)thin must et out o h%nd so th%t

e'er)thin is der%ded into %n instrument o the orest oner %nd his interest oper%tes %s

the soul o'ernin the entire mech%nism All the or%ns o the st%te become e%rs, e)es,

%rms, les, b) me%ns o hich the interest o the orest oner he%rs, obser'es,

%ppr%ises, protects, re%ches out, %nd runs

(he commission proposed the %ddition to G/2 o % conclusion dem%ndin th%t in%bilit)

to p%) be certiied b) the t%.7collector, the burom%ster %nd to loc%l oici%ls o thecommunit) in hich the inriner o orest reul%tions li'es A deput) rom the rur%l

communities considered th%t to m%e use o the ta#!collector%s contr%r) to e.istin

leisl%tion O course, no %ttention %s p%id to this contr%diction

9n connection ith G2#, the commission proposed:

09n the hine ro'ince the competent orest oner should be %uthorised to h%nd o'er

con'icted persons to the loc%l %uthorit) to perorm pen%l l%bour in such % %) th%t their

orin d%)s ill be put to the %ccount o the m%nu%l ser'ices on commun%l ro%ds

hich the orest oner is oblied to render in the rur%l communit), %nd %ccordinl)

subtr%cted rom this obli%tion0
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A%inst this, the ob


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(his l%st en'ious e.cl%m%tion o the orest oner cont%ins % hole conession o %ith

Cou %rm oner, h) %re )ou so m%n%nimous here m) interests %re concernedB

5ec%use )our interests %re %lre%d) looed %ter So let there be no illusions>

D%n%nimit) either costs nothin or brins somethin in (hereore, %rm oner, )ou

c%nnot decei'e the orest oner> (hereore, orest oner, do not decei'e the

burom%ster>

(his intermeo %lone ould suice to pro'e h%t little me%nin 0noble deeds0 c%n

h%'e in our deb%te, i the hole deb%te did not pro'e th%t mor%l %nd hum%ne re%sons

occur here merel) %s phr%ses 5ut interest is miserl) e'en ith phr%ses 9t in'ents them

onl) in c%se o need, hen the results %re o consider%ble %d'%nt%e (hen it becomes

elo6uent, its blood circul%tes %ster, it is not sp%rin e'en ith noble deeds th%t )ield it

proit %t the e.pense o others, ith l%tterin ords %nd su%r) ende%rments And %ll

th%t, %ll o it, is e.ploited onl) in order to con'ert the inrinement o orest reul%tions

into current coin or the orest oner, to m%e the inriner o orest reul%tions into %

lucr%ti'e source o income, to be %ble to in'est the c%pit%l more con'enientl) 77 or the

ood thie h%s become % c%pit%l or the orest oner 9t is not % 6uestion o misusin theburom%ster or the beneit o the inriner o orest reul%tions, but o misusin the

burom%ster or the beneit o the orest oner Wh%t % rem%r%ble tric o %te it is,

h%t % rem%r%ble %ct, th%t on the r%re occ%sions hen % problem%tic beneit or the

inriner o orest reul%tions is i'en % p%ssin mention, the orest oner is u%r%nteed

%n un6uestion%ble beneit>

(he olloin is )et %nother e.%mple o these hum%ne sentiments>

*poesman:0French l% does not %cnolede the commut%tion o imprisonment into

orest l%bour; he considers this commut%tion % ise %nd beneici%l me%sure, or

imprisonment does not %l%)s le%d to reorm but 'er) oten to corruption0

re'iousl), hen innocent persons ere turned into crimin%ls, hen in connection ith

the %therin o %llen ood % deput) rem%red th%t in prison the) ere brouht into

cont%ct ith in'eter%te thie'es, prisons ere s%id to begood.Suddenl) reorm%tories

h%'e been met%morphosed into institutions or corruption, or %t this moment it is o

%d'%nt%e to the interests o the orest oner th%t prisons corrupt 5) reorm o the

crimin%l is understood improvement of the percentage of profithich it is the crimin%l=s

noble unction to pro'ide or the orest oner

9nterest h%s no memor), or it thins onl) o itsel And the onethin %bout hich it isconcerned, itsel, it ne'er orets 5ut it is not concerned %bout contr%dictions, or it

ne'er comes into contr%diction ith itsel 9t is % const%nt impro'iser, or it h%s no

s)stem, onl) e#pedients.

Where%s hum%ne %nd rihtul moti'es h%'e no p%rt to pl%) e.cept

*e 6u=%u te%l nous %utres sots hum%ins,

Nous %ppelons %ire t%pisserie, [i]

e.pedients %re the most %cti'e %ents in the %rument%ti'e mech%nism o pri'%te

interest Amon these e.pedients, e note to th%t const%ntl) recur in this deb%te %ndconstitute the m%in c%teories, n%mel), 0good motives0 %nd 0harmful results0 We see
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sometimes the spoesm%n or the commission, sometimes %nother member o the

Assembl), deendin e'er) %mbiuous pro'ision %%inst hostile sh%ts o ob


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results %re h%rmul And in this respect interest is een7sihted Where%s pre'iousl) it

did not see h%t %s ob'ious to the n%ed e)e, it no sees e'en h%t is onl) 'isible

throuh % microscope (he hole orld is % thorn in the side o pri'%te interest, % orld

ull o d%ners, precisel) bec%use it is the orld not o % sinle interest but o m%n)

interests ri'%te interest considers itsel the ultim%te purpose o the orld ence i the

l% does not re%lise this ultim%te purpose, it becomes ine.pedient l%aw which isharmful to private interests isthereore law with harmful results.

Aregood motivesconsidered to be better th%n h%rmul resultsB

9nterest does not thin, it c%lcul%tes Doti'es %re its iures Doti'e is %n incenti'e or

%bolishin the b%sis o l%, %nd ho c%n doubt th%t pri'%te interest ill h%'e m%n)

incenti'es or doin soB (he oodness o % moti'e lies in the c%su%l le.ibilit) ith

hich it c%n set %side the ob Just one sinle noble deed> A indom or % noble deed> 5ut the onl)

noble deed proposed is th%t hich the err 5urom%ster h%s to perorm or the beneit

o the err Forest Oner (he burom%ster is the represent%ti'e o noble deeds, their

hum%nised e.pression, %nd the series o noble deeds is e.h%usted %nd ended or e'er

ith the burden hich %s imposed ith mel%nchol) s%criice on the burom%ster

9, or the ood o the st%te %nd the mor%l beneit o the crimin%l, the err 5urom%ster

must do more th%n his dut), should not the orest oners, or the s%e o the s%me ood,

dem%nd lessth%n theirprivate interestre6uiresB

One miht thin th%t the repl) to this 6uestion h%d been i'en in the p%rt o the deb%te

%lre%d) de%lt ith, but th%t is % mist%e We come to thepenal provisions.

0A deput) rom the nihtl) est%te considered th%t the orest oner ould still be

in%de6u%tel) compens%ted e'en i he recei'ed ?o'er %nd %bo'e the simple repl%cement

o the '%lue@ the %mount o the ine imposed, hich ould oten not be obt%in%ble0

An urb%n deput) rem%red:

0(he pro'isions o this p%r%r%ph ?G1$@ could h%'e the most serious conse6uences (he

orest oner ould recei'e in this %) threefoldcompens%tion, n%mel): the '%lue, thenthe our7, si.7, or eihtold ine, %nd in %ddition % speci%l sum %s compens%tion or loss,


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hich ill oten be %ssessed 6uite %rbitr%ril) %nd ill be the result o % iction r%ther

th%n o re%lit) 9n %n) c%se, it seemed necess%r) to him to direct th%t the speci%l

compens%tion in 6uestion should be cl%imed %t once %t the orestr) court %nd %%rded in

the court=s sentence 9t %s ob'ious rom the n%ture o the c%se th%t proo o loss

sust%ined should be supplied sep%r%tel) %nd could not be b%sed merel) on the %rden=s

report0

Opposin this, the spoesm%n %nd %nother member e.pl%ined ho the additional value

mentioned here could %rise in '%rious c%ses indic%ted b) them (he p%r%r%ph %s

%dopted

*rime becomes % lotter) in hich the orest oner, i he is luc), c%n e'en in % prie

(here c%n be %ddition%l '%lue, but the orest oner, ho %lre%d) recei'es the simple

'%lue, c%n %lso m%e % proit%ble business out o the our7, si.7, or eihtold ine 5ut i,

besides the simple '%lue, he recei'es speci%l compens%tion or loss, the our7, si.7, or

eihtold ine is %lso sheer proit 9 % member o the nihtl) est%te thins the mone)

%ccruin %s % ine is %n in%de6u%te u%r%ntee bec%use it ould oten not be obt%in%ble, itould cert%inl) not become more obt%in%ble b) the '%lue %nd the compens%tion or loss

h%'in to be reco'ered %s ell We sh%ll see presentl) ho this diicult) o recei'in

mone) rom the %ccused is o'ercome

*ould the orest oner h%'e %n) better insur%nce or his ood th%n th%t instituted here,

hereb) crime h%s been turned into % source o incomeB Iie % cle'er ener%l he

con'erts the %tt%c %%inst him into %n in%llible opportunit) or % proit%ble 'ictor),

since e'en the %ddition%l '%lue o the ood, %n economic %nt%s), is turned into %

subst%nce b) thet (he orest oner h%s to be u%r%nteed not onl) his ood, but %lso

his ood business, hile the con'enient hom%e he p%)s to his business m%n%er, the

st%te, consists in not p%)in or its ser'ices 9t is % rem%r%ble ide% to turn the

punishment o crime rom % 'ictor) o the l% o'er %tt%cs on it into % 'ictor) o

selishness o'er %tt%cs on selishness

9n p%rticul%r, hoe'er, e dr% the %ttention o our re%ders to the pro'ision o G14,

hich compels us to %b%ndon the custom%r) ide% th%t leges barbarorum%re l%s o

b%rb%ric peoples-unishment%s such, the restor%tion o the l%, hich must cert%inl)

be distinuished rom restitution o the '%lue %nd compens%tion or loss, the restor%tion

o pri'%te propert), is tr%nsormed rom %public punishmentinto %private

compensation, the ines oin not to the st%te tre%sur), but to the pri'%te coers o the

orest oner

(rue, %n urb%n deput) st%ted: 0(his is contr%r) to the dinit) o the st%te %nd the

principles o correct crimin%l


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(he Assembl) o the 3st%tes must h%'e been led %str%) b) % complete (ui pro (uo.(he

l%7i'in orest oner conused or % moment his to roles, th%t o leisl%tor %nd th%t

o orest oner 9n one c%se %s % orest oner he m%de the thie p%) him or the ood,

%nd in the other %s % leisl%tor he m%de the thie p%) him or the thie=s criminal frame

of mind, %nd it 6uite %ccident%ll) h%ppened th%t in both c%ses it %s the orest oner

ho %s p%id So e %re no loner %ced b) the simple droit du seigneur [


24/33

st%te bec%use o % crime committed b) % third person (he embelin o public, st%te

unds is % crime %%inst the st%te, %nd is not the mone) rom ines public mone)

belonin to the st%teB

(he ood thie h%s robbed the orest oner o ood, but the orest oner h%s m%de use

o the ood thie to purloin thestate itself.o liter%ll) true this is c%n be seen romG1!, the pro'isions o hich do not stop %t imposin % ine but %lso l%) cl%im to the

body and lifeo the %ccused Accordin to G1!, the inriner o orest reul%tions is

h%nded o'er completel) to the orest oner or hom he h%s to perormforest labour.

Accordin to %n urb%n deput), this 0could le%d to re%t incon'enience e ished

merel) to c%ll %ttention to the d%ner o this procedure in the c%se o persons o the

other se.0

A deput) rom the nihtl) est%te %'e the olloin etern%ll) memor%ble repl):

09t is, indeed, %s necess%r) %s it is e.pedient hen discussin % dr%t l% to e.%mine %nd

irml) est%blish its principles in %d'%nce, but once this h%s been done, there c%n be nooin b%c to them in discussin e%ch sep%r%te p%r%r%ph0

Ater this, the p%r%r%ph %s %dopted without opposition.

5e cle'er enouh to st%rt out rom b%d principles, %nd )ou c%nnot %il to be rihtull)

entitled to the b%d conse6uences Cou miht thin, o course, th%t the orthlessness o

the principle ould be re'e%led in the %bnormit) o its conse6uences, but i )ou ne

the orld )ou ould re%lise th%t the cle'er m%n t%es ull %d'%nt%e o e'er)

conse6uence o h%t he h%s once succeeded in c%rr)in throuh We %re onl) surprised

th%t the orest oner is not %lloed to he%t his sto'e ith the ood thie'es Since it is %

6uestion not o riht, but o the principles hich the ro'inci%l Assembl) h%s chosen to

t%e %s its st%rtin point, there is not the slihtest obst%cle in the %) o this

conse6uence

9n direct contr%diction to the dom% enunci%ted %bo'e, % brie retrospecti'e l%nce

shos us ho necess%r) it ould h%'e been to discuss the principles %resh in respect o

e%ch p%r%r%ph; ho, throuh the 'otin on p%r%r%phs hich ere %pp%rentl)

unconnected %nd %r remote rom one %nother, one pro'ision %ter %nother %s

surreptitiousl)slipped through, %nd once the irst h%s been put throuh in this %), then

in re%rd to the subse6uent ones e'en thesemblanceo the condition under hich %lone

the irst could be %ccepted %s disc%rded

Rheinische Zeitng! "o. ,-! S&&lement! "ovember , )%*#

When in connection ith G4 the 6uestion %rose o entrustin '%lu%tion to the %rden

m%in the ch%re, %n urb%n deput) rem%red:

09 the propos%l th%t ines should be p%id into the st%te tre%sur) is not %ppro'ed, the

pro'ision under discussion ill be doubl) d%nerous0


25/33

9t is cle%r th%t the orest %rden ill not h%'e the s%me moti'e or o'erestim%tin i his

'%lu%tion is m%de or the st%te %nd not or his emplo)er +iscussion o this point %s

silull) %'oided, the impression bein i'en th%t G14, hich %%rds the mone) rom

the ine to the orest oner, could be re


26/33

(he principle o divide et impere[di'ide %nd rule] could not be more %droitl) e.ploited

9n considerin one p%r%r%ph, no %ttention is p%id to the ne.t one, %nd hen the turn o

th%t one comes, the pre'ious one is orotten One p%r%r%ph h%s %lre%d) been

discussed, the other h%s not )et been discussed, so or opposite re%sons both o them %re

r%ised to % position %bo'e %ll discussion 5ut the %cnoleded principle is 0the sense o

riht %nd %irness in protectin the interests o the orest oner0, hich is directl)opposed to the sense o riht %nd %irness in protectin the interests o those hose

propert) consists o lie, reedom, hum%nit), %nd citienship o the st%te, ho on

nothin e.cept themsel'es

We h%'e, hoe'er, re%ched % point here the orest oner, in e.ch%ne or his piece o

ood, recei'es h%t %s once % hum%n bein

*hyloc.Dost le%rned 77 A sentence> come, prep%re>

-ortia.(%rr) % little; there is somethin else (his bond cloth i'e thee here no

Wh%t is the b%sis o )our cl%im to m%e the ood thie into % serB (he ine We h%'e

shon th%t )ou h%'e no riht to the ine mone) Ie%'in this out o %ccount, h%t is

)our b%sic principleB 9t is th%t the interests o the orest oner sh%ll be s%eu%rded e'en

i this results in destro)in the orld o l% %nd reedom Cou %re unsh%e%bl)

determined th%t in some way or otherthe ood thie must compensate youor the loss

o )our wood.(his irm ooden ound%tion o )our %rument is so rotten th%t % sinle

bre%th o sound common sense is suicient to sh%tter it into % thous%nd r%ments

(he st%te c%n %nd must s%): 9 u%r%ntee riht %%inst %ll continencies iht %lone is

immort%l in me, %nd thereore 9 pro'e to )ou the mort%lit) o crime b) doin %%) ith

it 5ut the st%te c%nnot %nd must not s%): % pri'%te interest, % p%rticul%r e.istence o

propert), % ooded plot o l%nd, % tree, % chip o ood ?%nd comp%red to the st%te the

re%test tree is h%rdl) more th%n % chip o ood@ is u%r%nteed %%inst %ll continencies,

is immort%l (he st%te c%nnot o %%inst the n%ture o thins, it c%nnot m%e the inite

proo %%inst the conditions o the inite, %%inst %ccident Just %s )our propert) c%nnot

be u%r%nteed b) the st%te %%inst %ll continencies before% crime, so %lso % crime

c%nnot con'ert this uncert%in n%ture o )our propert) into its opposite O course, the

st%te ill s%eu%rd )our pri'%te interests inso%r %s these c%n be s%eu%rded b) r%tion%l

l%s %nd r%tion%l me%sures o pre'ention, but the st%te c%nnot concede to )our pri'%tedem%nd in respect o the crimin%l %n) other riht th%n the riht o pri'%te dem%nds, the


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protection i'en b) ci'il


28/33

(he pre'iousl) mentioned urban deputys%id %lso:

0(he cut in prison %re, hich h%s %lre%d) been condemned, must be re%rded %s too

se'ere %nd, especi%ll) in the c%se openal labour, 6uite impr%ctic%ble0

A number o deputies denounced the reduction o ood to bread%nd water%s bein toose'ere 5ut % deput) rom % rur%l communit) rem%red th%t in the (rier district the ood

cut h%d %lre%d) been introduced %nd h%d pro'ed to be 'er) effective.

Wh) did the orth) spe%er ind th%t the beneici%l eect in (rier %s due precisel) to

bre%d %nd %ter %nd not, perh%ps, to the intensification of religious sentiment, %bout

hich the Assembl) %s %ble to spe% so much %nd so mo'inl)B Who could h%'e

dre%med %t th%t time th%t bre%d %nd %ter ere the true me%ns or s%l'%tionB +urin

cert%in deb%tes one could belie'e th%t the 3nlish ol) %rli%ment[&]h%d been re'i'ed

And noB 9nste%d o pr%)er %nd trust %nd son, e h%'e bre%d %nd %ter, prison %nd

l%bour in the orest> o prodi%l the Assembl) is ith ords in order to procure the

hinel%nders % se%t in he%'en> o prodi%l it is too, ith ords, in order th%t % holecl%ss o hinel%nders should be ed on bre%d %nd %ter %nd dri'en ith hips to l%bour

in the orest 77 %n ide% hich % +utch pl%nter ould h%rdl) d%re to entert%in in re%rd to

his Neroes Wh%t does %ll this pro'eB (h%t it is e%s) to be hol) i one is not illin to

be hum%n (h%t is the %) in hich the olloin p%ss%e c%n be understood:

0A member o the Assembl) considered the pro'ision in G2" inhuman2ne'ertheless it

%s %dopted0

Ap%rt rom its inhumanity, no inorm%tion %s i'en %bout this p%r%r%ph

Our hole %ccount h%s shon ho the Assembl) der%des the e.ecuti'e poer, the

%dministr%ti'e %uthorities, the lie o the %ccused, the ide% o the st%te, crime itsel, %nd

punishment %s ell, to material means of private interest.9t ill be ound consistent,

thereore, th%t thesentence of the court%lso is tre%ted %s % mere me%ns, %nd the legal

validityo the sentence %s % superluous proli.it)

09n G/ the commission proposed to delete the ords 'legal, valid'since, in c%ses o


29/33

commission retorted: =(he whole forms an e#ceptional law, %nd thereore %lso %n

e#ceptional provision, such %s h%s been proposed is permissible in it= (he commission=s

propos%l to delete the ords =le%ll) '%lid= %s approved0

(he sentence e.ists merel) to identi) recidi'ism (he


30/33

content of the law, soth%t e should not be let in the end ith onl) %n empt) m%s (he

orm is o no '%lue i it is not the orm o the content

(he commission=s propos%l hich e h%'e


31/33

Wood rem%ins ood in Siberi% %s in Fr%nce; orest oners rem%in orest oners in

%mch%t% %s in the hine ro'ince ence, i ood %nd its oners %s such m%e l%s,

these l%s ill dier rom one %nother onl) b) the pl%ce o oriin %nd the l%nu%e in

hich the) %re ritten (his ab&ect materialism, this sin %%inst the hol) spirit o the

people %nd hum%nit), is %n immedi%te conse6uence o the doctrine hich the

-reussische *taats!Zeitungpre%ches to the leisl%tor, n%mel), th%t in connection iththe l% concernin ood he should thin onl) o ood %nd orest %nd should sol'e e%ch

m%teri%l problem in a non!political way, ie, ithout %n) connection ith the hole o

the re%son %nd mor%lit) o the st%te

(hesavages of 3ubare%rded old %s %fetish of the *paniards.(he) celebr%ted % e%st

in its honour, s%n in % circle %round it %nd then thre it into the se% 9 the *ub%n

s%'%es h%d been present %t the sittin o the hine ro'ince Assembl), ould the) not

h%'e re%rded wood%s theRhinelanders' fetish45ut % subse6uent sittin ould h%'e

t%uht them th%t the orship o %nim%ls is connected ith this etishism, %nd the) ould

h%'e thron the haresinto the se% in order to s%'e the human beings [!]

"'T/S

From the MECW

1-roceedings of the *i#th Rhine -rovince Assembly. hird Article. 5ebates on the aw

on hefts of 6ood isone o the series o %rticles b) D%r. on the proceedins o the

hine ro'ince Assembl) rom D%) 2" to Jul) 2$, 1841 D%r. touched on the theme othe m%teri%l interests o the popul%r m%sses or the irst time, comin out in their

deence Wor on this %nd subse6uent %rticles inspired D%r. to stud) politic%l econom)

e rote %bout this in the pre%ce to hisA 3ontribution to the 3riti(ue of -olitical

1conomy?18$!@: 09n the )e%r 184274", %s editor o theRheinische Zeitung, 9 irst ound

m)sel in the emb%rr%ssin position o h%'in to discuss h%t is non %s m%teri%l

interests +eb%tes o the hine ro'ince Assembl) on the thet o ood %nd the di'ision

o l%nded propert); the oici%l polemic st%rted b) err 'on Sch%per, then Oberpr%sident

o the hine ro'ince, %%inst theRheinische Zeitung%bout the condition o the Dosel

pe%s%ntr), %nd in%ll) the deb%tes on ree tr%de %nd protecti'e t%ris c%used me in the

irst inst%nce to turn m) %ttention to economic 6uestions0

3.cerpts rom the speeches b) the deputies to the Assembl) %re cited rom *it+ungs!

-rotoolle des sechsten Rheinischen -rovin+ial!andtags, oblen, 1841

2 (he second %rticle ritten b) D%r. on the proceedins o the hine ro'ince

Assembl), b%nned b) the censors, %s de'oted to the conlict beteen the russi%n

Lo'ernment %nd the *%tholic *hurch or the so7c%lled church conlict

" D%r. reers to the *rimin%l *ode o %rl H ?5ie peinliche 7alsgerichtsordnung

8aiser 8arls 0. 3onstitutio criminalis 3arolina@, %ppro'ed b) the eichst% in

eensbur in 1$"2; it %s distinuished b) its e.tremel) cruel pen%lties
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4 (he reerence is to the so7c%lled b%rb%ric l%s ?leges barbarorum@ compiled in the

ith7ninth centuries hich ere records o the common l% o '%rious Lerm%nic tribes

?Fr%ns, Frisi%ns, 5urundi%ns, I%nob%rds [Iomb%rds], Anlo7S%.ons %nd others@

$5odona !!% ton in 3pirus, se%t o % temple o eus An %ncient o% re ne%r the

m%in entr%nce to the temple ith % sprin %t its oot; or%cles interpreted the ill o theods rom the rustlin o its le%'es

/ (he %ct mentioned too pl%ce durin the siee o Anterp in 1$8478$ b) the troops

o in hilip 99 o Sp%in, ho ere suppressin the Netherl%nd=s re'olt %%inst

%bsolutist Sp%in

& (he reerence is to the 5%rebone=s, nomin%ted, or Iittle %rli%ment summoned b)

*romell in Jul) %nd dissol'ed in +ecember 1/$" 9t %s composed m%inl) o

represent%ti'es o the *onre%tion%l *hurches ho couched their criticism in reliious

m)stic terms

8 idong !!% reion in %lim%nt%n ?5orneo@

! An %llusion to the deb%te o the Si.th hine ro'ince Assembl) on % bill %%inst

'iol%tions o %me reul%tions, hich depri'ed the pe%s%nts o the riht to hunt e'en

h%res

% 0(here %re to inds o corruption,0 s%)s Dontes6uieu, 0one hen the people do not

obser'e the l%s, the other hen the) %re corrupted b) the l%s: %n incur%ble e'il

bec%use it is in the 'er) remed) itsel0 *h Dontes6uieu,5e l'esprit des lois, (ome

premier, li're si.iEme, ch%pitre P99

b A pun on the Lerm%n ord8asten, me%nin both 0c%stes0 %nd 0bo.es0

c 0Iittle e.tr%s0

d A pun on the Lerm%n ords79hneraugen !!corns, %ndAugen !!e)es

e W Sh%espe%re, he /erchant of 0enice, Act 9H, Scene 1

0When he is %r%id, he is terrible0

0Full poers0

h 0Nothin is more terrible th%n loic c%rried to %bsurdit)0

i Wh%t, %t % b%ll, e simple ol c%ll bein %llloers

< iht o the ?eud%l@ lord


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1842 9nde.Q D%r.73nels Archi'e
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Marx_Articles in Rheinische Zeitung 1842

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