Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1839-09-12
MOST Exr9ao.DrNAaY DlscLo'

The facts disclosed n he subjoinei testimony,
On oath. BY Col PLEasosrex, Of PhiladeIphia.
are 10 very extraordinary, hat nothing short Of
our knowledge cf the high character and per.
'onai worth Of the depoueni could have induced
rs to believe the reality Of his narrative As
Is, however, the facts which he relates NAV be
safely pronounced. for arociiy azd diabolism
OF spirit, without precedent or parallel.
Fro@ "a Hgri.ssrs ChrOnieis.
We most earnestly call the attention
81 the people OF Pennsylvania 10 the
horrible disclosures made below. lf a
losser conspiracy was ever contemplated.
we have vet 90 hear Of il. The person
giving this testimony is no partisan; q
man Of much reputation and high stand.
ing, and was one Of Gen. Patierson's
principal officers. when that officer
marched 10 Harrisburg to quell the riot
e". Let the people read and reflect
over these horrid disclosures: let them
pass judgment at the next election on a
party. q leading member Of which would.
Tor the sake Of aiding that party in its
wicked purposes, thus contemplate the
destruction Of human life by the thou
sand.
n. ). fieasonton appeared before the
committee. and being duly sworn depo.ed
as follows:
Question BY Mr.. Barclay. Please 10
state whether you had any conversation
with any OF the Van Buren, members of
either branch of the Legislature as 10
what The Van Buren, party, or any nor.
ton OF IL. designed to do in order 10 pre-
vent the troops under Gen. Patterson
from reaching Harrisburg?
|1a"esr. On the 20th of January last.
] called 10 see Col. M'Elwee. q member
OF the House Of Representatives. from
Bedford. on some public business. At hi,
lodgings IN the evening. He was up.
dressed. end about TO 90 10 bed, but en-.
tered into conversation with me on the
subject OF nv business; in the course of
which he referred TO the character of the
volunteer troops from Philadelphia; who
lhad been in service in the preceding
month OF December at this place. He
spoke very favorablv Of them. and said
that II was V,H for them that 70 ,uany of
them rsre Democrats, ar of6,rlrise then
'rouh nsrer h1rs Ersd TO hare reached
HaTrisburg. He then stated that on The
announcement here that the troops from
Philadelphia would obev the order NJ the
Governor. and would march for Harris
burg, u vns agreed BY himself and flco or
faree Others Tho1 he did moi name, IN pre.
rent their arrirdl at this place at Oh haz-
nrds. supposing at the moment that. as
the troops belonged TO Philadelphia. thew
were all Wings. and favorable 10 the
State Administration. To carry out this
agreement. he said il was determined 10
renore felo Of The rails on the raiiroa1 at
fhe most dangerous part of IL. and aLso 10
form mine under this exposed part. 10 be
,hH'd rih P1npoicdSr, an TINT IN ne con-
fnsion phieh "ouH arise from Tie train
of cars containing the froops bring op,r-
fhToDn By thus running off the track, THE
NINE MIGHT BE SPRUNG, AND THE
WHOLE BODY OF THEM BE BLOWN INTO
THE AIR TocETHER! For this purpos,
ne himself had pure6ased three barr,Ls Of
g"nPo'rdsT and said that he had poid forfv
dollars out of his oton pocket for the pur.
chase. To convince me that he was seri
Gus IN what he stated TO have been their
design, he further ssid that his associates
therein were men OF tried courage. and.
having been officers Of the army during
the last war. knew how 10 execute the
project they had conceived.
This design was abandoned by them
IN consequence Of information having
been received subsequently to the pur-
chase OF the gunpowder. that the troops
then on their route from Philadelphia.
were not all Of the same political party.
large portion Of them belonging 10 the
Democratic party. TO which Col. M'Elwes
and his associates in this design also be-
Ionged. He further said that il was TO
this circumstance alone that the arrival of
the troops from Philadelphia at Harrisburg
without injury or loss was to be altribu-
ted. The design was abandoned because
II would have been impossible 10 have
separated ;he Democrats from the Wings
IN its execution, and protected them from
the danger Of the explosion.
A. J. PLEASoNToN.
Col. PLEAsoNToS, IN explanation. I
! deem 1t proper TO state 10 the com
milIse, lest some persons might suppose
that had been instrumental in causing
my testimony on this subject to be addu-
ced, that have never mentioned this
conversation before my exsmination to.
day to any but TO one gentleman from
neighborlng State. who was casually here
in auendabce on public business, and
with whom | vas 10 the habit Of daily
intercourse.
When on the eve Of his departure from
haTIisourg. he ineauiiously repeated the
substance Of this conversation 10 a mem.
Der Of the Senate. and mentioned nv
name As that Of his authority for bis state
ment That Senator caused me TO be
snbpGnaed as a witness before this con-
miItee. When learned for what object
] had been thus subppnssd. / declined TO
give my testimony until | had stated
these circumstances n Col. NJ Elwse.-
This did this morning. Col. M'Elwes
made no objection TO my giving hiss COO
veraiIon IN evidence, and accordingly I
I have Answered the ouestson ,.,h,sL Al.