Bliss was a delegate to the Republican National Conventions of 1864 and 1868. He was a delegate to the Liberal Republican National Convention in 1872, and to the Democratic National Convention of 1876, 1880, 1884, and 1888. He was a member of the board of water commissioners of Brooklyn in 1871 and 1872. From 1868 until 1878 he was the president and vice-president of the Bushwick Railroad Company. He was also a Director of the New York &amp; Long Island Bridge Company.