 Two days later he also submitted a motion to grant pardons to black slaves who he claimed had been deluded by the British to join Loyalist forces.Nicholas opposed the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, but he was a member of the committee appointed to draft a declaration of rights and a new form of government for Virginia.He was a member of the Virginia General Assembly from 1776 to 1778 and in 1779 was appointed to the high court of chancery.