"Do not separate text from historical background. If you do, you will have perverted and subverted the Constitution, which can only end in a distorted, bastardized form of illegitimate government"

In this quote, James Madison is highlighting the value of understanding historical context when translating the Constitution. He warns against separating the text of the Constitution from the events and situations that led to its development. By doing so, he believes that the true significance and intent of the Constitution will be misshaped and damaged. Madison argues that this will eventually cause an illegitimate kind of federal government, one that goes against the concepts and values of the Constitution. He is urging readers to consider the historical background and context in order to fully understand and maintain the Constitution as it was intended.