In 1871 the legislature established Alcorn University , and Spelman was appointed by Governor Alcorn to the board of trustees and was elected secretary . Spelman was a delegate to the 1872 Republican National Convention in Philadelphia and was a chosen presidential elector . In 1873 , Adelbert Ames was elected governor , and Spelman was appointed to his staff and made assistant commissioner of immigration . In 1876 , he again was a delegate to the Republican National Convention , and served on the committee on rules . At the convention he supported Benjamin H. Bristow first , and then Rutherford B. Hayes
1872 Republican National Convention
1872 Republican National Convention
James J. Spelman