But to all objections it may be answered, that a division of employments is an im perative law of civilization. So over powering is the necessity of a combina tion of labour with a distribution of dis tinct employments, for the production of wealth, that Mr. Wakefield has inge niously ascribed to it the origin of slavery, in countries where labour has not been accessible by means of wages. (See Note to Adam Smith, book i. ch. I.) Where land is abundant, families naturally scat ter themselves over it, and provide for themselves nearly all that they want. More than they want they do not produce, as there is no market ; and the growth of capital, under such circumstances, is im possible. One man has no inducement to offer to another for his labour ; and thus the strongest men, with dominant wills, finding the necessity of dombined indus try for any extensive production, wage war upon their weaker neighbours and compel them to work by force. But where land becomes scarce and dear, men are forced into other employments distinct from agriculture ; capital grows, wages are offered as an inducement to work, and the more wealthy and populous a country becomes, the more extensive must be the distribution of separate em ployments. To object to a division of
employments, therefore, is no less than to object to civilization altogether ; for the two conditions are inseparable. It is deeply to be lamented that many evils have hitherto clung to the progress of civilization, which are not its necessary accompaniments. Many of them may be referred to the slow growth of political science, and might be corrected by the application of sound principles of govern ment; many may be attributed to the neglect of the religious and moral cul ture of an increasing population : but short indeed must be the sight of any man who would seek to correct them by applying to a civilized state the rude expedients of barbarism.
(Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations, book i. chapters 1, 2, 3, with Notes by M'Culloch and Wakefield ; M'Culloch's Principles of Political Economy, &c.)