[219] Jackson supported the states' right to do so.[220][221] His position was later made clear in the 1832 Supreme Court test case of this legislation, Worcester v. Georgia. Georgia had arrested a group of missionaries for entering Cherokee territory without a permit; the Cherokee declared these arrests illegal. The court under Chief Justice John Marshall decided in favor of the Cherokee: imposition of Georgia law on the Cherokee was unconstitutional.[222] Horace Greeley alleges that when Jackson heard the ruling, he said, "Well, John Marshall has made his decision, but now let him enforce it."[223] Although the quote may be apocryphal, Jackson made it clear he would not use the federal government to enforce the ruling.[224][225][226]
Jackson used the power of the federal government to enforce the separation of the Native American tribes and whites.[227] In May 1830, Jackson passed the Indian Removal Act through Congress.