Perhaps we should all step back and give careful thought to this entire affair before it gets out of hand.
I consider the Pitmuck Goblins friends of Vesper, and you are all welcome here. I have done my best to make accommodations to that end, including the stump on the bank island and the ice cream and candy in the Vesper Auction House. Understand that my criticisms come from a place of affection and concern.
After the goblins left the Council meeting, it was clear that King Blackthorn was quite insulted by the tone of the petition and the implications made in the petition itself and by the goblins presenting it. He specifically stated that he did not appreciate demands being made of him.
I am holding a copy of the petition in my hand right now. Allow me to quote:
Wees, da Goblins ub Pitmuck, declair dat wees bees an indiginos en minoritee populashun ub Britannia, en wees bees entitleds to da offishul statis ub "Domestick Dapendent Nashun" wits da rites ub "Tribel Soverntee" - e.e. wit authoritee ta govurn weeuns owns selves en establish weeuns owns corts."
The petition then goes on to request that Pitmuck be declared a "Tribel Terratorrie".
As I stated in the Goblin Convention, this sounds to me as though the Goblins of Pitmuck wish to establish the island of Pitmuck as a reservation of sorts. While I find this potentially unwise and possibly deleterious to Pitmuck for various reasons, I believe that, so long as Pitmuck does not attempt to secede entirely from Britannia, a formal declaration of Pitmuck's standing as a Goblin territory
within Britannia is not unreasonable if that is truly the wish of the Pitmuck Goblins.
However, in the Council Meeting, it sounded more as though Pitmuck wished to secede entirely from Britannia. I cannot agree with this any more than King Blackthorn did. We are not a single people, but we are one land of many peoples. It is our unity that makes us strong.
Of course this concept was dismissed out of hand. Secession from Britannia would both damage the foundation of Britannia and likely prove harmful --if not fatal!-- to Pitmuck. The current invasion should be more than adequate evidence that no single city or township can stand alone when powerful outside forces seek to harm us. It would be no different if Vesper wished to leave Britannia--whatever might be gained in independence would be more than lost in the loss of support from the crown and the Guard.
The long absence of strong central leadership until recently in Britannia should not imply that Britannia can or should be splintered into multiple nations. King Blackthorn has been, by far, the most democratic leader that Britannia has ever known, but he is still the highest authority in the land. So long as he rules fairly, he has my support, and I have seen no evidence that he is incapable of or unwilling to do so. In fact, I believe he has been quite reasonable.
For the most relevant examples, I remind you that he insisted on a fair trial in Skara Brae for Ozog, and that he welcomes citizens of all standing in Britannia to address him at Council Meetings as time permits. He has been very indulgent of Goblin behavior during the meetings, even though much of it is outside what we humans would consider proper for such a venue.
I am uncertain exactly how it is that he is oppressing the Pitmuck Goblins, or anyone else for that matter. Perhaps a more concise enumeration of perceived slights against Goblinkind by Britannia and the throne might help clear this situation up a bit. I understand that you are disappointed by the rejection of your petition, but throwing around implications that the King is a tyrant (or that he isn't the king at all, as was implied in the petition itself) does nothing to further your cause and only exacerbates the situation.
After the Goblins left the meeting, Governor Victor II offered to help the Goblins work on the petition to try to reach a solution acceptable to all parties. I, of course, am more than happy to offer my services as well.
Again, I consider the Pitmuck Goblins to be friends to myself and to the City of Vesper. Let's work together to keep Britannia both united AND inclusive of all our citizens.
-Governor Ivy of Vesper
