Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1839-10-01
MOST EXTRAORDINARY. DIS.
CLOSURE.

CLOSURE.
The facts disclosed in the subioinec
testimony, on oath, BY Col. PIeasanton, O.
Philadelphia, are so very extraordinary
that nothing short Of our knowledge of the
high character and personal worth of the
deponent could have induced us to believe
| the reality of his narrative. AS it is however
the facts which he relates may be safely
pronounced, for atrocity and diabolisrn o.
spirit, without precedent or parallel.
From the Harrisburg Chronicle.
We most earnestly call the attention of
the people ofPennsylvania to the horrible
disclosures made below. Ii q baser con.
spiracy was contemplated, we have vel
TO hear of 1t. The person giving this
| testimony is no partisan a man of much
reputation and high standing, and was one
of Gen. PATrERsoN's principal officers.
when that officer marched to Harrisburg
TO quell the rioters. Let the People read
and reflect over these holrid disclosures
let them pass judgement at the next cleo.
ton on 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 thou
sand.
A. J. PLEAsoNT N appeared before the
committee, and, being duly sworn accor-
ding to law, deposed as follows:
Question. Please 10 state any converse
ton you had with any person connected
with the late disturbances at Harrisburg !;
or member of either branch Of the Leg
stature in relation TO the intention Of the
COMMITTEE ofSafety,or ofthose who acted
with them, tearing up the railroad, or any
other act, SO as to prevent the troops under
zen. Patterson's command reaching
Harrisburg.
AHStCer. do not know what the in
tentlon of the committee or those con-
nected with them was; ! had no CONVEX
satlon with any one on the subject of the
intention of those persons / have no
knowledge of any thing done in Philadel-
phia, except such as is derived from CON-
mon rumor. 1t was currently reported
every where in Philadelphia, before the
troops left for Harrisburg, that they would
be prevented from marching, or wo uld be
obstructed in their progress to the State
Capitol, and the 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 Governors orders, and
the rumors assumed the complexion of the
political parties who originated them |
had been informed by Gen. Patterson that
t the persons who wereto have removed the
were prevented by the interference of some
ofthe officers oftne volunteers themselves,
who represented to them the injury that
would result to their friends from the ex-
ecution of such an intention.
Question by Mr.. Barely. Please TO
state whether you had any conversation
with any of the Van Buren, members OF
either branch of the Legislature as to what
Heslghed b as If order 70 To- prevent the
troops under Gen. Patterson from reach
ing Harrisburg
AnSacer. On the Goth of January last,
! called to see Col. M'Elwee, member
of the House of Representatives from
Bedford, on some public business, at his
lodgings, in the evening. He was un-
dressed, and about to 60 TO bee, but enter
ed into conversation with me on the subject
of my business in the course of which he
referred TO the character of the volunteer
troops from Philadelphia, who had been
IN service in the preceding month OF De-
cember at this place. He spoke very
favorablv of them, and said that it was
scell for them that so many of them scert
| Democrats, as otherwise they acouLd neue'
haze Rred to haze reached Harrisburg
He then stated that on the announcement
here that the troops from Philadelphia
would obey the order of the Governor
and would march for Harrisburg, 1t srIs
agreed By hinaSel and taco or three Others
achom he did not name, TO preUent thell
a7riraI at This place at all hazards, suppo
sing at the moment that, as the troops be-
longed to Philadelphia, they were al
Wings, and favorable TO the State Ad
mlnistration. TO carry out this agree
ment, he said it was determined to TenaoUt
a few cf the rails on the railroad at the
most dangerous part Of 1t, and also to form
a mine under this opposed part, to be filled
10Th gunpoacder, so that in the confusion
schich ,oould arise from the train of car
containing the troops being oUerthrotcn b
thus running off the track, THE NINE NIGH
BE SPRUNG, AND THE WHOLE BODY o.
THEM BE BLOWN INTO THE AIR TOGETHER
For this purpose, he had purchased tire
barrels of gnnpoacder, and said he ha
paid toriy dollars out of his o,on pockt
for the purchase. To convince me ths
he was serious in what he stated to hav
! been their design, he further said that hi
associates therein were men of tried coul
age, and having been officers of the arm
during the last war knew how to execul
the project they had conceived.
This design was abandoned by theI
: in consequence Conformation having bee