Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 4.djvu/605

 VIRGIN'IA PJOGRAFffY

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Every phase of penal service is discussed, hy this youn^ man of thirty-three, with 4ej;th of thouj^ht, broad scope and an in- tellectual acumen at that time unknown in such work. This report would be admirable "literature" for the prison reformers and fjhilanthropists of to-day.

In part, he says: "I am satisfied that suc- cess can only be said to be complete when the penitentiary shall become as humane and healthy as personal restraint can be made; and when it is administered with such moral instruction as will aid, and not control, the freedom of thought and action on the subject of religion." For twenty- seven years these principles were the basis of Morgan's work. After release, many homes were secured by him for released or pardoned prisoners in the Xorth and West, there being no r<^x>m in the South on account of the negro; often giving of his private purse for their travel. His salary from the state was small, but of it he gave freely to these released prisoners. Several of them became ministers of the Gospel in the West and led pious lives. The state did not pro- vide religious instruction for the convicts, but from the beginning. Colonel Morgan interested the clergy of all denominations, and tvtry Sunday afternoon brought some one to preach to the prisoners. Meanwhile, Mrs. Morgan and a few lady friends spent every Sunday a.itern(xjn in the womens' ward, giving them religious instruction.

lie decided to develop shoemaking. The prisoners resented this for a while, as they did not like the slow hand work. Colonel Morgan would often go into the shop and encourage the men, and under his gentle influence there was developed a good grade of work. After his death this shop fur- nished hundreds with shoes during the war between the states, even the dainty feet of ladies and children wearing them, although no fine article was attempted. The rank of colonel was given the superintendent in order that he could order out troops from the nearby state armory, in case of riot or fire at the penitentiary, without awaiting an order from the governor of the state.

Colonel Morgan was a man of polished manners, great culture and strikingly hand- some. His wife, .\lcinda Gibson TMossji Morgan, was highly educated. Their eldest daughter completed her education at Chig- ary Hall in Xew York City, and passed an

M, A, course in mathematics, doing survey- ing, and was said to be the first woman who attained these honors in America prior Uj iH^/'). She was also an ardent student of astronomy. One son was a VVest Pointer, the other a graduate of the University of Virginia. The state required the superin- tendent to live on the grounds of the peni- tentiary, and in this home, surrounded by his charming family, he drev/ about him the intellect, the culture and the elite of Rich- mond, at a time when that city was noted for elegant men and women.

Next to his religion, C/Aontl Morgan's love for his state dominated his life. He selected William and Th^^mas Ritchie, John Hampden Pleasants, Daniel London and a few others, and began plans to preserve his- toric sites in V^irginia, primarily Jamestown Island, the seat of the first permanent Eng- lish settlement. Many meetings were held, always in the parlor at the penitentiary and many plans were discussed. About this time, the whole country was stirred with political feelings, and predictions of war and unrest were dominating every move, but simple plans were made for celebrating at Jamestown Island in 1857, the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the landing of the colonists. Then Ritchie decided to go to Washington to live, and it was not long before he had told the plans of the little Antiquarian Society which he had left be- hind, although it was distinctly understo^>d that the move was to be kept quiet until the plans were more fully matured. Ritchie suc- ceeded in arousing the interest of some of his Washington friends, and one day the Washingtonians sailed down the Potomac and around to Jamestown Island, where they celebrated the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary, although Ritchie had died in 1854, the year that the Jamestown Society of Washington, which he had promoted, had been organized. Bitter was the feeling amongst the Richmond gentlemen. Two years later. Colonel 3^Iorgan died, grieving to the last that the little band of Virginians had not had the honor of arranging and carrying out the celebration, and the little band in Richmond ceased to exist after 1857. At his death. Colonel Morgan was superin- tendent of the penitentiary.

A few words should be added. This office, so ably administered for more than a quarter of a century by a Christian gentle-