The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1839-09-19

A most Extraordinary Disclosure.
The facts disclosed iii the subloined tes-
timony, on oath by Col. Pleasonton, of
Philadelphia, are so very extraordinary,
that nothing short of our knowledge Of
I the high character and personal worth Of
/ the deponent could have induced US to be-
J lieye the reality Of its narrative. As it IS,
/ however, the facts which he relates may
be safely pronounced, for atrocity and dla.
bollsn of spirit, without precedent or par
/ aliel.-Ndt. Int.
From The Harrisburg Chronicle.
We most earnestly call the attention of
I the people Of Pennsylvania to the horrible
disclosures made below. If baser con.
spiracy was ever contemplated, we have
yet 10 hear of it. The person giving this
testimony is no partisan; a man Of much
reputation and high standing. and was one
Of Gen. Patterson principal officers, when
that officer marched 10 Harrisburg to quell
the rioters. Let the people read and re-
feet over those horrld disclosures let
them pass Judgment at the next election
ON a party, a leading member Of which
would. for the sake of aiding that party in
Its wicked purposes, thus contemplate the
! destruction Of human life by the thousand.
! A, !. PIeasonton appeared before the
committee, and being duly sworn accord
inc TO law, disposed as follows:
+ Question Please to state any CONVEX
salion YOU had with any person connected
with the late disturbances at Harrisburg
or a member Of either branch of the Leg
stature III relation to the intention of the
! Committee Of Safety, or OF those who act
ed with them, tearing up the railroad, or
any other act, 50 as TO prevent the troops
under Gen. Patterson's command reaching
Harrisburg,
AEsuer. | do not know what the IN
teutlon Of the committee or those connect
ed with them was | had no conversation
with any one on the subject of the lnten-
nou Of those persons; | have no knowledge
of any thing done IN Philadelphia, except
such as Is derived from common rumor.
Il was currently reported every where III
Philadelphia before the troops left fol-
Harrisburg, that they would be prevented
from marching, or would be obstructed
~ their progress 10 the State Capitol, anc
the means 10 accomplish this was SAID L
b. the removal Of some of the rails on tbs
railway. There was much excitement ii
Philadelphia on the reception Of the Coy.
errors orders, ard the rumors assumed
the complexion of the political parties who
originated them. had been informed by
Gen. Patterson that the persons who were
to have removed the rails, were prevented
from so dong bY the interference Of some
If the officers Of the volunteers themselves
who represented 10 them the injury thai
would result TO their friends from the exc.
cuton Of such an intention
Question By NJ. Barclay. Please to
state whether You had any conversation
with any of the Van Buren, members OF
either branch Of the Legislature as to
what the Van Buren, party, or any portion
Of il, de,irrad to do IN order to prevent
the troops under General Patterson from
reaching Harrisburg
Insurer. On the goth of January last
| called TO see Col. M'Ejwee, a member
q the House Of Representatives from Bed.
ford, on some pubic business, al his lodg-
lugs, IN the evening. He was undressed
and about to 20 to bed, but entered into
conversation with me on the subject of my
business IN the course of which he refer.
red to the character of the volunteer troops
from Philadelphia, who had been in ser.
wee IN the proceeding month Of Decom.
Der at this place. lie spoke very favora-
hly Of them, and said that ii was well for
them that so many oi, them were Demo-
Gratis. as otherwise they would never have
lived TO have reached Harrisburg. He
then stated, that on the announcement here
that the troops from Philadelphia would
obey the order of the Governor, and march
for Harrisburg, 1t was agreed by himself
and two or three others whom he did not
name, TO prevent their arrival a, this place
at all hazards, supposing at the moment
that, as the troops belonged to Phlladel.
phia, they were all Wings, and favorable
to the State Administration, 70 carry
out this agreement, he said 1t was deter
mined to remove a few Of the rails on the
railroad at the most dangerous part Of it,
and also to form mine under this expos
ed part to be filled with gmnowder, 50
that in the confusion which would arise
from the train of cars containing the troops
being overthrown BY thus running off the
track, the mine might be sprung, and the
whole body of them be blown into the air
together For this purpose, he himself
had purchased three barrels of guupowder,