Cheraw gazette and Pee Dee farmer. [volume] (Cheraw S.C.) 1838-1839, 1839-09-20

timony, on oath, bv Col. Pleason'on, OF
Philadelphia, are so very extraordinary
that nothing short Of our knowledge of the
high character and personal worth OF the de.
ponent could have induced US 10 believe
the reality of his narrative. As it is, how.
ever. the facts which he relates may be
safely pronounced, for attrocity and diabo-
lism of spirit without precedent or parallel.
Nat. Intel.
From the Harrisburg Chronicle.
We most earnestly call the attention OF
the people of Pennsylvania to the horrible
disclosures made below. If baser con.
spiracy was ever contemplated, we have
vet to hear oft. The person giving this
testimony is no PARTISAN; man Of much
reputation and high standing. and was one
of Gen. Patterson's principal officers, when
that officer marched to Harrisburg to quelI
the rioters.
A. J. Pleasonton appeared before the
committee, and being duly sworn according
10 law, deposed as follows:
Question. Please state any conversation
you had with any person connected with
the late disturbances at Harrisburg or a
member of either branch of the Legislature
in relation to the intention of the Committee
of Safely, or of those who acted with them,
tearing up the railroad, or any other ac'' so
as TO prevent the troops under Gen. Patler.
sons command reaching Harris' urg.
Ansuer. do not know what the inten-
ton Of the committee or those connected
with them was had no conversation with
any one on the subject Of the intention oi
those persons | have no knowledge OF any
thing done in Philadelphia, except such as
is derived from common rumor. 1t was
currently reported every where in Ph'ladel.
pha, before the troops left for Harrisburg,
tina. they would be prevented from march,
| ing, or would be obs,ructed in their pro.
gress to the State Capitol, and tho n,oens 10
| accomplish this was said to be the removal
of some of the rails on the railway. There
was much exci,cmen, in Philadel phia on the
reception of the Governors orders, and the
rumors assumed The complexion Of the po.
llical parties who originated them. had
been informed by Gen. Patterson that the
persons who were 10 have removed the rails
were prevented from SO doing by the inter.
ference of some oflhe officers of the volua.
teers themselves, who represented to them
the innJury that would result to their friends
from the execution of such an intention.
Question by Mr.. Barclay. Please to
state whether you had any conversation with
any Of the Van Buren members Of either
branch of the Legislature rs to what the
Van Buren, party, or any portion of it, de-
signed to do in order to prevent the troops
under Gen. Patterson from reaching Har.
risburg?
Ansver On the 20th of January last, !
called to see Col. M'Elwee, a member OF
the House Of Representatives from Bedford,
on some public business, at his lodgings, in
the evening. He was undressed, and about
10 70 10 bed, but entered into conversation
with me on the subject of my business; in
the course Of which he referred 10 the char
ac,er of the volunteer troops from Philadel.
phia, who had been in service in the Prece-
ding month of December at this place. He
spoke very favorably ofthem, and said that
it was veN for them that 50 many Of them
uere Democrats, as otherwise they aoouM
Meier haze Eved 10 haze reached Harris
burg. He then stated that on the announce.
men, here that the troops from Philadelphia
would obey the order Of the Governor, and
would march for Harrisburg, it was agreed
by himself and two or three others whom
he did not name, TO prevent their arrival at
this place at all hazards, supposing at the
moment that, as the troops belonged to
Philadelphia, they we're all Wings, and ia
vorabe to the Stote Administration. To
carry out this agreement, hc said it was de-.
termined TO remuve few of the rails on the
rail road at the most dangerous part Of it,
and also to form mine under this exposed
part, to be filed with gunpowder, so tha, in
the confusion which would arise from the
train of cars containing the troops Icing
overthrow by thus running off the track,
the mine might be sprung, and The whole
body ofthern be blown INTO the air together |!
For this purpose, he himself had purchased
three barrels Of gunpowder, and said that he
had paid forty dollars out of his own pocket
! for the purchase. To convince me that
he was serious in what he stated to have
been their design, he further said that his
associates therein were men of tried cour,
age, and, having been officers of the army
during last war, knew how to execute the
-..:,.,, ,L,,, },od ooncaiyod
This design was abandoned by them in
consequence of information having been re.
ceived subsequently TO the purchase of the
gunpowdcr, that the troops then on their
route from Philadelphia were not all of the
same polltical party, large portion of them
belonging to the Democratic party, TO which
Col M,Elwen and bis assnciaics in this d: