The General Assembly chose him to be Governor of South Carolina in 1802 for a two-year term. During his time as governor, the legislature repealed laws against the traffic of slaves, but prohibited the importation of slaves under the age of fifteen from other states.
In 1802, the General Assembly selected him to serve as Governor of South Carolina for a two-year period.  While in office, he oversaw the repeal of laws prohibiting slave trade but implemented a ban on importing slaves younger than fifteen years old from other states.