I was elected twice to represent Aelioian when it had a public debate with L. L. S., the other women's literary society. The first time I was a sophomore, and the last time I was a junior.  I considered the latter selection a special honor because as a rule the society elected a senior to represent it in the pubic debate held with L. L. S. before Commencement (CWWW 44).

On March 16, 1883, in her junior year, the discussion topic was:  "Is a Republic now the best form of Government for France?" Her opponent, Kate Lucretia Safford, was a fourth year student taking the Literary Course.  Despite providing more information about the content of Terrell's argument and praising her performance, the Oberlin Review reported Safford as the victor:

The discussion was on the comparative merits of a Republicanism and a Monarchy for France.  Miss Safford supported the affirmative of this with powerful arguments from history, the philosophy of government and the present inclinations of the French people. Miss Safford's article was too long, especially as it was composed of solid arguments that left little room for the pleasing diversion in thought or style. But notwithstanding its length it held the attention of the audience. Her consideration of the subject was so candid and her argument so philosophical that she easily won the question.

Miss Church supported the negative by appealing to the fickleness of the French people, the instability of the present government arising from its attack on the clergy which had as she asserted alienated the French people from Republican forms, and from the ignorance of the French peasants which incapacitate them from carrying on such government. Miss Church presented her arguments in a much more pleasing style than Miss Safford and her delivery was much more animated and magnetic but she failed to touch the strength of her opponent's position. Her arguments were skillfully chosen from those that were not touched in Miss Safford's paper so that what she did say had all the power that it could have had. But she still failed in overthrowing the strong conviction that Miss Safford left with the audience, that in a Republic lay the strength and safety for the French people (Oberlin Review, March 31, 1883, p. 12-13).