Mr. LAFLIN, from the ComPrintg, to which was referred the memorial of J. C. G. Kennedy, late superintending clerk of the census, in relation to the action of the SecyInterior concerning the 3rd volume of the Census Reports, reported the same back, with a written report, which was read, concluding with the following resolution: Resolved, That the ComPrinting be discharged from the further consideration of the me irepllielalsof J. C. G. Kennedy, under date of December Mr. LAFLIN. This is a subject that relates to a difficulty that arose between the SecyInterior and the memorialist, Mr. Ken nedy, late superintending clerk of the census. It appears that in June last, owing to the failure of the appropriation by the last congress, it was found to be impossible to continue the duties of the Census O cc without making some change therein. Accordingly the SecyNterior, on the advice of the Cab inet and the POTUS, transferred the duties of that Office to the ComrGLO Office, Hon. J. M. Edmunds. The reason for the transfer was that there was an unappropriated fund under the charge of the ComrGLO which could beas well applied to this purpose as to any other, and it was impossible to continue the publication of the Census Reports without may ng this transfer. At the time this was done it was held by the memorialist, Mr. Kennedy, that the SecyInterior acted in violation of law. This is the charge which is plainly and distinctly made in the memorial. It was consequently the 1st duty of the committee to address themselves to the consideration of that question. By referring to the act of January 23, 1850, establishing the Census Office, it was found that after enumerating certain powers which were to be given to the SecyInterior, and to marshals and others to be appointed under him in connection with the census, the SecyInterior was empowered, in the General management of the business of the census, to appoint a superintending clerk of the census, who should do thus and so under his direction. In accordance with the provisions of that law the meiuorialist, the late superintending clerk of the census, was a pointe and contin ued in that office until une, 1865. At that time, for the reasons I have already stated, the duties of the Census Office were transferred to the ComrGLO. Now, we find. by the express language of the act to which I have referred language the meaning of which cannot be mistaken, and upon which no doubtful construction can be placed that the SecyInterior was empowered in the general management of the duties of his office to appoint a superintending clerk of the census to act under his direction. The late superintending clerk of the census, Mr. Kennedy, claims that although the law in such explicit terms gave the whole control of the office to the SecyInterior, yet certain resolutions adopted by the Senate and by the HoRep with reference to the publication of the 3rd volume of the Census, relating to manufactures, transferred these powers to him. By reference to those resolutions we find that they instructed the Superintendent of Public Printing to print, as furnished by the late superintending clerk of the census. so many volumes of the 3rd volume of the Census on manufactures. But there is nothing in the language he respectfullg submitted to the House that would we to the superintending clerk power to take mm the SecyInterior the general mana ement of the duties of the office. An besides that, even if it were so the committee found when this work was readyfor publication, when the manuscript was furnished in toto to the Superintendent of the Public Printing, the memorialist was not in office; that the duties of the office had been transferred to the ComrGLO, Hon. James M. Edmunds; and under the interpretation sought to be given to these resolutions, he had no right to claim that the SecyInterior had acted in violation of the law. It appears that the incumbent of the Office of Superintendent of the Census at the present time was appointed, named, and authorized under the written direction of the SecyInterior to assume the duties of that office prior to the reparation of the work; but, sir, it is due to e memorialist to say that of 843 pages, some 6 or 700 had been prepared when the office was under his direction. Now, sir, I think I have shown sufficiently clear to this House that the SecyInterior did not act in violation of the law in transferring the duties of that office to the ComrGLO. But the memorialist claims, still further, that an illegal act has been committed, not only by the SecyInterior, but by the ComrGLO office, inasmuch as the latter, when in charge of the Census, saw fit to introduce into the 3rd volume, on manufacturcs, a preface of his own comosition in place of the preface prepared by the late superintending clerk of the census. Now, sir, we have thoroughly examined these prefaces, and although we cannot for a moment admit that the character of these prefaces, as to their lit erary merit, has anything to do with the consideration of this question, yet we are clearly satisfied that the ComrGLO, who was actin under the direction of the SecyNterior, and who was the officer in charge at the time when this work was transmitted to the Public Printer, had the right to exercise his judgment as to what should be in and what should be out of the 3rd volume. We hold there was nothing in what he did or what he failed to do that was illegal and we hold, still further, the proposition, which will meet, we think, the cordial assent of this House, that no person, however exalted may be his position, occupying a subordinate position in any of the Depts of the government, has a right to claim for an of his work or labor that which may be considered as a uasi copyriht or its equivalent.