Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1839-09-12
From the Harrisburg Chronicle
ASTOUN AND HORRIBLE
DISCLOSURES.


Iacy was ever contemplated, we have yet TO
hear of it. II is equally Infamous with the
famous gunpowder plot, in the time of James
!. The person giving this testimony is no
partizan; q man Of much reputation and high
and was one Of Gen. Paiterson's
principal officers, when that officer marched
10 Harrisburg to quell the rioters. Let the
people read and reflect over these horrid dis
let them pass Judgment at the next
election OF a party, leading member of
which would, for the sake Of aiding that party
IN its wicked purposes, thus contemplate the
of human life by the thousand.-
Tins discloscs Locofocoisn,. If it's votaries
cannot rule, they will destroy the citizens of
the land by tho CARLOAD. Arouse, people of
Pcnnsyl ania, to a sense of your danger. IL
I.ocoioc0ism in theory will not destroy every
vestigc'of your rights, its practical applica-
ton to your lives by means Of powder, &c.
will.
A. J. Pleasonton appeared before the com
mi,lee, and being duly sworn according TO
law, deposed as iollows:
Qusi.-Please to state any conversation
you had with any person connected with the
late disturbances at Harrisburg, or member
of either branch of the Legislature, IN rela-
ton to the intention OF the committee OF safe
ty, or of those who acted with them, tearing
up the railroad, or any other act so as to pre-
vent the troops under General Patterson's
command reaching Harrisburg.
.9ns.-I do not know what the intention OF
the committee or those connected with them
was. had no conversation with any one
on the subject Of the intention of those per-
sons have no knowledge Of any thing
done in Philadelphia, except such os IS derl-
we'd from common rumor. ii was currently
reported every where in Philadt lphia, before
the troops left for Harrisburg, that they would
be prevented from marching, or would be
obstructcd in their progress to the state capl-
tol, and tho means to accomplish this was
said to be the removal OF some of the rails on
the railway. There was much excitement
IN Philadelphia on the reception OF the Go
vcrnor'5 order and the rlmOrs assumed the
complexion Of the political parties who orgi-
mated them. had been Informed by Gene
raj Patterson that the persons who were to
have removed the rails, were prevented from
so doing by the interference OF some Of the
officers of the volunteers themselves, who
represented 10 them the injury that would
result TO their friends from such an intention.
Question By Mr.. Barciay.-Pease to state
whether you had any conversation with any
of the Van Buren members Of either branch
of the legislo'ure, MS 10 what the Van Buren,
party, or any portion of IT, designed to do, in
order to prevent the troops under General
Patterson from reaching Harrisburg.
.Ansir~r--On the ooh of January last, !
called to see Colonel M'Elwee, n member Of
the House of Representatives from Bedford,
on some public business, at his lodgings, in
the evening. lie was undresscd and about
to go to bed, but entered into conversations
with lie on the subject Of my business; {; in
The course Of which he referred to the char
acter of the volunteer troops from Phlladel-
pl,ia who had been in service in the precc-
ding month of December at this place. lie
spoke very favorably Of them, and said that
II was well for them that so many OF them
were Democrats, as otherwise they would
never have lived To have reached Harrisburg.
tie then stated that on the announcement
hero that the troops from Philadelphia would
obey The order of the Governor, and would
march for Harrisburg, it was agreed by him
self and two or three others whom he did not
name, to prevent their arrival at this place at
all hazards, snpposing at the moment, that as
the troops belonged to Philadelphia, they
were all Wings, aud favorable 10 the state
administration. TO carry out this agreement
he said it was determined TO remove II few Of
the rails on the rail road at the most danger
Gus part of it, and also to form n mine under
this exposed part, to bo filed with gunpow-
der, so that in the confusion which would
arise from the train of cars containing the
troops being overthrow by thus running of
the track, the mine might be sprung, and the
whole body Of them be blown into the Dir
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 farther said that
his associates therein were men Of tried
courage, and having been officers Of the army
during tho last war, knew how 10 execute the
project they had conceived.
This design was abandoned by them IN
consequence of information having been re-
ceivcd subsequently, To the purchase Of the
gunpowdcr, that the troops then on their
route from Philadelphia were not all Of the
same political party, a large portion of them
belonging to the democratic party, to which
Col. M'Elwee and his associates IN the de-
sign also belonged. lie farther said that it
was TO this circumstance alone that the arri-
val of the troops from Phladelp phia. at Har.
risburg, without injury or loss was 10 be
attributed. The design was abandoned be-
cause it would have been impossible To have
separated the democrats from the wings 10
its execution, and projected them from the
danger Of the explosion.
Al. PLEASONTON.
Col. PleasontOn, in explanation.
deem it proper to state to the committee
lest some persons might suppose that had
been instrumental in causing my testimony
on this subject TO be ndduced, that have
never mentioned this conversation before my
examination to-day, to any but TO ono gen.
tleman from a neighboring state, who was
casually here in tendance on public busi-
ness, aud with whom was in the habit Of
daily intercourse.
When on the eve Of his departure from
Harrisburg, he incauliously repeated the
substance of this conversation to a member
Of the Senate, and mentioned my nnmc ns
that of his authority for his statement. That
Senator caused me to be subrpnncd ns n
witness before this committee. When |
learned for what object had been thus sub.
pGnacd, declined to give my testimony
until ] had stated these circumstances TO
Col. M'Elwcc. This ] did this morning.
Col. M'Elwce made no objections TO my CIV
ing his conversation in evidence, and accor-
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