Georgia's Charter was for the country lying between the Savannah and Altahama rivers, and extending westward from their headwaters to the Pacific Ocean—a vast territory indeed.
After the Revolution the Mississippi River became the western boundary. Georgia still included, in addition to her present area, most of the States of Alabama and Mississippi.
This vast territory was of more apparent than real value. It was in the possession of the Chickasaws, Choctaws, Cherokees and Creeks. These were powerful tribes of Indians who, by previous treaty, were under the protection of the Federal Government.
Land Speculation was one of the leading characteristics of the United States at that time. As early as 1785 applications were made to the legislature for grants of land on the Mississippi. In 1795 a bill was passed disposing of the greater part of what is now Alabama and Mississippi at a cent and a half per acre. It aroused a storm of indignation. The next year the obnoxious act was repealed and the records of the sale publicly destroyed. But many speculators had already sold their land and much confusion followed. The purchasers organized to enforce their claims. Congress appointed commissioners to settle the conflicting claims. In 1802 Georgia ceded all the lands west of the Chattahoochee on payment of $1,250,000 and the promise of the Federal Government to remove all Indians from her remaining territory as soon as practicable.
The Indians Refused to Go, however, and in the meantime the progress of the State was much impeded by their presence within her borders. Various purchases were made from time to time by both Federal and State agents. New counties were organized and opened for settlement. But the Indian at length became suspicious of the motives of the whites and persistently refused to sell.
The Cherokees were nearly 15,000 in number, fairly civilized, peaceable and well-governed. Their conduct afforded no excuse for the use of force, and they stood upon their treaty rights in refusing to sell their land.
President Jackson, a known enemy to the Indian, had now become chief executive. Georgia therefore promptly extended her jurisdiction over the country of the Cherokees and divided it into counties. Jackson approved and withdrew the Federal troops which Adams had sent down to protect the Indians. The Cherokees appealed to the Federal courts, which thrice decided in their favor, but Jackson refused to execute its judgments.
In 1836 a part of the disheartened Cherokees agreed to a treaty commuting their claim for a payment of five million dollars and the expense of removal. In 1837 and 1838 they were conveyed to the West by Federal troops.
Murray County History 1911