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I believe Barton wrote that the quote is unconfirmed, not that there was no basis for it. He seems to have argued for its probability given Madison's Federalist writings. But no matter, let's just go to the actual laws on the books in the colony of New Hampshire, if you seriously believe the Ten Commandments were not at the very heart of our jurisprudence:

..if any person shall presume wilfully to blaspheme the holy name of God, Father, Son or Holy Ghost, either by denying, cursing or reproaching the true God, his creation or government of the world; or by denying , cursing, or reproaching the holy word of God, that is the canonical scriptures....every one so offending shall be punished by imprisonment, not exceeding six months, ...by setting in the pillory, by whipping, boardig throgh the tongue with a red hot iron, or setting upon the gallows with a rope about their neck..."

How could Madison have POSSIBLY said anything as preposterous as law being based on the ten commandments? Given the laws on the books at the time, it would have been preposterous to conclude anything else.

I believe Barton wrote that the quote is unconfirmed, not that there was no basis for it.

And the difference is? The fact is that there is no record that Madison ever said it. Barton can't remember where or how he found that quote. Now I'm not saying that he made it up, but if you'd like I can provide you with a whole lot of "unconfirmed" quotations from Founding Fathers to bolster my position.

But no matter, let's just go to the actual laws on the books in the colony of New Hampshire,

If you look far enough back in colonial history you'll find all kinds of restrictive religious laws. It was in reaction to those laws that the 1st Amendment was passed.