The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1839-09-19

result % their iriends from NE e1eeouoh
Of such an intention.
Question o. Dr.. Barclay-Plesse 10
state whether you had any conversation
aish any Of The Van Buren, members Of
ether branch Of The Legislature ss 10
chat The Van Buren, parry. or any por-
lion Of IL. designed 10 do. 10 order io'Pre-
vent the troops under Gen. Patterson
from reaching Harrisburg
.7nsuer-On The 20th Of January last.
| called 10 see Col. MeElwee. . member
Of The House Of Representatives from
Bedford. on some public business, Al hrs
lodgings. in The evening. lie was un-
dressed. snSebOuI 10 60 10 bed. but en-
Tered inlO sohEfsaliOn with me on The
subject Of my business; in The course Of
which he referred 10 The eharsclezpf The
volunteer troops from PhlladslahA no
had been in service in The PTsesding
mosh of December at this place. -
spoke very favorsbly of ihsn. and said
that il was y well for them a, so many
OF them we're Democrats. N olherwiss
they would never have lived TO have
reached HafS6urg." lie then 81 thai
on The announcement here that lfSe kSpa<s
from Philadelphia would obey the order
Of the Governor. and would march for
Harrisburg. I" il was agreed by himself
and two or three others. whom he dad
not name, 10 prevent their arrival at this
place al all hazards. supposing al the
moment that, az the troops belonged TO
Philadelphia, they we're all Wings. and
favorable TO the slate administration. To
carry out this agreement. he said it was
determined TO remove q lew Of. the rails
on the railroad at the most dangerous
part Of IL. and also 10 form a mine under
this exposed part. to be filled with gun
powder, so that in the confusion which
would arise from the train Of cars con.
tanning the troops. being oyerIhrown BY
thus running of the track, the mine
might be sprung. and The rhOis body Of
them 6iown into the air fogsiher!! Fur
this purpose. he himself had purchased
three barrels Of gunpovder, and said that
he had paid forty dollars on. Of his own
pockeG for the purchase. TO convince
me that he was serious in what he stated
10 have been the design, he further said
that his associates therein were men Of
tried courage. and, having been officers
Of the army during the last war. knew
how TO execute the projsc. they had con-
ceived.
This design was abandoned by them
in consequence Of Information having
been received subsequently to the pur
chase of The powder, that the troops then
I'm their rouie from Phlladelphia were
not all Of the same political party. large
portion Of them belonging 10 the Demo-
cratic parry. to which Col. M'EIwee and
his associates in this design also belong
ed. He further said that il was To this
Circumstance alone. thar the arrival of the
troops from Philadelphia a, Harrisburg
without injury or loss, was to be atiribui.
ed. The design was abandoned because
j, would have been impossible TO have
separated the Democrats from the Wings
IN us execution. and project them from
the danger Of me explosion.
A. .PLEasoNTON.
COL Pieasonton, IN explanation.
l deem il proper to state to the com.
mitiee, least some persons might suppose
that | had been instrumental in Causing
my testimony on This subject to BE- adJu.
ced, that | have never mentioned this
conversation before my examination to-
day TO any but to one gentleman from .
neIghborIng state, who was casually here
in attendance on public business, and
with whom ! was in the habit Of daily
When on the eve of his departure from
Harrisburg. he incau,i"usly repeated the
substance Of this conversation. TO mem.
Der Of the Senate. and mentioned my
nsme as thai Of his authority TOR hIs
statement. That senator caused me to
be subpnnaed as a witness befnre hi.
committee. When | learned for what
object | had been thus subpenaed. I de
clinfd Ia give my testimony until ] had
STATED these circumstances TO Col. Me.
Eiwee. This | did this morning. Col.
McElwee made no objections to my CIV
ing his conversation ia evidence. aud &C.
have answered the questions
which The committee proposed to me.
A. ]. +.
THE PIE-BALD PARTY.