THE HESPERIAN
14.!
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One of tlio fiercest parliamentary con
tests that ever took place in the Union
occurred upon the proposition to change the
name to Adelphian In recognition of the
property rights of the members of that
societv in the fixtures and furniture.
Charges of rapine and spoliation were
freely indulged in a plea was made for the
aqquittal. The impeachment trial of
Secretary Hart is still remembered as one
of the most interesting and amusing ses
sions of the Union.
It was about this time that one of our
country recruits furnished a unique example
of polite correspondence. Having doubt
less been urged by the Professor of En-
rights of those who had been Adelphians glish Literature to write with studied ex-
but had not consented to the transfer of the actness, asked one of our newly admitted
property. The proposed change was lady members "for the pleasure of her
defeated, but we orphans succeeded in company to and from the Union society on
having spread upon the records of the next Friday evening." Not to be out
Union a resolution recognizing lineal des- done in exactitude in diplomatic correspon-
cent of the Union from the Adelphian and deuce she accepted his .proffered escort "for
redeeming the constitution and records of the round trips'
the latter from the waste basket. The literary societies of twenty years ago
In consideration of the property obtained formed an important factor in university
from the Adelphian the Union made all life, and it will be a matter of regret to me
mombers of the honorary members of the if they shall ever be suffered to lose their
latter and preserved the records of the influence. While I have often doubted if
parent society. So by adoption rather than any practical benefit came from some of the
by right of birth the Union is the heir of studies pursued in my college days, no
the Adelphian. It was in these early days
of the Union that there occurred an impeach
ment trial worthy of a larger place in
history than has hitherto been accorded to
it. In order to give the exercises a
practical turn, formal charges of "high
crimes and misdemeanors" were filed
against the secretary of the society and he
was regularly put upon trial. The history
of impeachments from that of Warren I have been asked to speak of the Uuiver
Hastings to that of President Johnson was sity of Nebraska in its earliest stages to re
drawn upon for precedent. The brilliant call appearances and events at its very be
constitutional arguments would have ex- ginning. It is yet too early to indulge in
cited the envy of a Webster, while the personal reminiscencesto speak freely of
Philippics delivered against the honorable the actors in the making of the University,
society were worthy of a Burke. Vener- I shall be content therefore, to refer only to
able and imposing sheep-bound tomes from circumstances and conditions,
the university library served pro hue vice On September 7, 1871, the University of
for law books. Nebraska opened with an enrollment of
ine manner in which the contending sevenry-five students.
counsel quoted convenient law from books
such doubts have ever existed as to the
practical value of the training received in
literary societies.
"AS IT WAS IN THE BEGINNING."
of general literary, encyclopaedias,
scientific reports, etc., gave ernest of their
future ability to make the worse appear the
better reason. The trial resulted in an
That was a promis
ing event for a state only a little more than
four years old, with a population of about
130,000 people scattered along its eastern
border, with practicaly no schools above the
primary or common grades. The ratio of
B