When United States Senator Morton died in 1878 , the Republicans nominated Harrison to run for the seat , but the party failed to gain a majority in the state legislature , which at that time elected senators ; the Democratic majority elected Daniel W. Voorhees instead . In 1879 , President Rutherford B. Hayes appointed Harrison to the Mississippi River Commission , which worked to develop internal improvements on the river . As a delegate to the 1880 Republican National Convention the following year , he was instrumental in breaking a deadlock on candidates , and James A. Garfield won the nomination
1880 Republican National Convention
1880 Republican National Convention
Benjamin Harrison