From 1870 to 1878 he was chairman of the state Republican Party . He resigned his position as Surveyor of the Port of New York to become a member of the New York State Assembly ( New York Co. , 11th D. ) in 1873 , and was elected Speaker , one of the very few times a first-term member was chosen . He was influential at the 1876 Republican National Convention which nominated Rutherford B. Hayes . In January 1877 , he was appointed naval officer of the Port of New York by Grant
1876 Republican National Convention
1876 Republican National Convention
Alonzo B. Cornell