In response to the rebellion losses bill controversy of 1849, Upper Canadians mounted a series of political demonstrations and spectacles. Opponents of the bill (and of the governor who gave it royal assent) took to the streets in displays of ‘muscular conservatism' where sheer numbers and undertones of violence associated with effigy burnings and rioting gave weight to their opposition. In response, Reform government supporters joined the fray, engaging in emotional and physical outbursts that strayed from the etiquette of deliberative democracy. Government supporters also staged welcome ceremonies – vice-regal displays – when Governor Elgin toured the province to reveal popular support for his actions and the principle of responsible government. The article examines the wide range of performative strategies deployed across the province as Upper Canadians grappled with a divisive issue. It argues that deliberative democracy built a public, but so too did muscular conservatism and monarchical display.